The effect of a static magnetic field on the morphometric characteristics of neurosecretory neurons and corpora allata in the pupae of yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor (Tenebrionidae).
OBJECTIVE
The morphometric characteristics of A1 and A2 protocerebral neurosecretory neurons (cell and nuclei size, number of nucleoli in the nuclei); corpora allata size, nuclei size, cell number, were investigated in the pupae of yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor (L.), exposed to a strong static magnetic field of 320 mT maximum induction (10,000 times higher than the Earth's).


METHODS
The experimental groups of Tenebrio molitor pupae were: A control group exposed only to natural magnetic field and sacrificed at the eighth day of pupal development (C); and pupae kept in a strong static magnetic field for eight days and then sacrificed (MF). Serial brain cross-sections were stained using the Alcian Blue Floxin technique. All the parameters were analyzed and measurements were performed using an image processing and analysis system (Leica, Cambridge, UK) linked to a Leica DMLB light microscope (program is QWin - Leica's Quantimet Windows-based image analysis tool kit).


RESULTS
The values of morphometric parameters of neurosecretory neurons and corpora allata were significantly increased after exposure of the pupae to the strong magnetic field.


CONCLUSIONS
The strong magnetic field influence characteristics of protocerebral neurosecretory neurons and corpora allata in the late Tenebrio molitor pupae.
Peric-Mataruga
Vesna
V
Institute for Biological Research 'Sinisa Stankovic', Belgrade, Serbia. vesper@ibiss.bg.ac.yu
Prolic
Zlatko
Z
Nenadovic
Vera
V
Vlahovic
Milena
M
Mrdakovic
Marija
M
D000423:Alcian Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003335:Corpora Allata / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011679:Pupa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013712:Tenebrio / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D000423:Alcian Blue