title: Ultrastructure and immunofluorescence of the midgut of Bombus morio (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombini).
abstract: Bumblebees are widely distributed across the world and have great economic and ecological importance as pollinators in the forest as well as in agriculture. The insect midgut consists of three cell types, which play various important roles in digestion, absorption, and hormone production. The present study characterized the anterior and posterior midgut regions of the bumblebee, Bombus morio. The digestive, regenerative and endocrine cells in the midgut showed regional differences in their number, nuclear size, as well as the size of the striated border. Ultrastructurally, the digestive cells contained many mitochondria and long microvilli; however, in the anterior midgut region, these cells showed dilated basal labyrinths with a few openings for the hemocoel, whereas the labyrinths of the basal posterior region remained inverse characteristics. Thus, the characterization of the midgut of B. morio supported an ecto-endoperitrophic circulation, contributing to a better understanding of the digestive process in this bee.
authors: Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors: Wagner Gonzaga
authors: WG
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors: Kenner Morais
authors: KM
authors: Fernandes
authors: Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors: Marcelo Silva
authors: MS
authors: Barcellos
authors: Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors: Fernanda Pereira
authors: FP
authors: Silva
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors: Marcos Jorge
authors: MJ
authors: Magalhães-Junior
authors: Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors: José Cola
authors: JC
authors: Zanuncio
authors: Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors: Gustavo Ferreira
authors: GF
authors: Martins
authors: Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: jeserrao@ufv.br.
authors: José Eduardo
authors: JE
authors: Serrão
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004064:Digestive System / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019835:FMRFamide / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
chemical_list: D019835:FMRFamide
keywords: Bumblebee; Digestive tract; Endocrine cell; Regenerative cell; Stem cell