title: Distinctive presence of peritracheal athrocytes in Bombyx mori L. and Bombyx mandarina M. as compared to their absence in several other lepidopteran species.
abstract: Pericardial cells are present in a wide variety of insects and are thought to constitute the majority of 'athrocytes (nephrocytes)'. In contrast, peritracheal athrocytes have only been observed in Bombyx mori L. Although peritracheal athrocytes have a distinct morphology, it is unknown whether these cells are common to all lepidopterans. We anatomically compared eight lepidopteran species: Bombyx mori L. and Bombyx mandarina M. (Bombycidae); Samia cynthia ricini D. (Saturniidae); Agrius convolvuli L. (Sphingidae); Spodoptera litura F. and Mythimna separata W. (Noctuidae); Pieris rapae L. (Pieridae); and Glyphodes pyloalis W. (Crambidae). Of these species, only Bombyx mori L. and Bombyx mandarina M. possess peritracheal athrocytes.
authors: Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8562, Japan.
authors: Chie
authors: C
authors: Owa
authors: Fugaku
authors: F
authors: Aoki
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Nagata