Notes on midgut ultrastructure of cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae).
This work studied the ultrastructure of the midgut cells of Cimex hemipterus Fabricius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). The midgut of adult insects was analyzed on different days after a bloodmeal, and three anatomical regions with different digestive functions were apparent. In the anterior midgut, the digestive cells had many spherocrystals, lipid inclusions, and glycogen deposits, suggesting a role in water absorption, ion regulation, digestion, and storage of lipids and sugars. The digestive cells in the middle midgut contained secretory granules in the apical cytoplasm, lysosomes, and large amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting that this midgut region was active in digestive processes. The posterior midgut contained digestive cells with secretory vesicles, lysosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and spherocrystals, suggesting digestion and ion/water absorption. Also, there was strong evidence that the posterior midgut may be the major site of nutrient absorption. The hematophagous heteropteran groups share many of these blood digestion mechanisms.
Azevedo
Dihego Oliveira
DO
Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa, MG, CEP 36570-000, Brazil.
Neves
Clóvis Andrade
CA
Mallet
Jacenir Reis dos Santos
JR
Gonçalves
Teresa Cristina Monte
TC
Zanuncio
José Cola
JC
Serrão
José Eduardo
JE
D000818:Animals; D001511:Bedbugs / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission