title: Starvation suppresses cell proliferation that rebounds after refeeding in the midgut of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana.
abstract: Starvation affects behavior, development, metabolism, reproduction, and longevity in almost all animals including insects. In the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, we investigated the effect of starvation on organ size and cell proliferation activity of the midgut, over a period of one month, using anti-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), and anti-phospho-histone H3 antibodies. Under starvation conditions, the midgut became clear and fragile while its length and diameter were reduced. Both the rate of BrdU-uptake in the nucleus and the mitotic activity shown by anti-phospho-histone H3 antibody decreased under long starvation up to half that of the continuously fed control. Refeeding restored BrdU-uptake and mitosis that overshot the fed control. When casein, starch, or cooking oil was fed as representative nutrient sources to the starved cockroaches, all restored BrdU-uptake, but non-nutrient, talc, did not. This study supports the hypothesis that P. americana has a homeostatic mechanism to regulate the cell population of the midgut epithelium according to changes in the nutritional environment.
authors: Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.
authors: Moon Soo
authors: MS
authors: Park
authors: Makio
authors: M
authors: Takeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D001976:Bromouracil / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010526:Periplaneta / Q000502:physiology*; D013217:Starvation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D001976:Bromouracil