Abstract
In Diatraea saccharalis larvae, the Malpighian tubules are found along the digestive tube, extending from the middle mesenteric region to the end of the posterior intestine, where they come in contact with the rectum to form the cryptonephridium. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of non-parasitized and parasitized larvae by Cotesia flavipes have indicated that the tubules consist of secretory and reabsorption cells. In parasitized larvae, the occurrence of hemocytes and teratocytes around the tubules is indicative of their role in immunological defense; however, they were not observed in non-parasitized larvae. At day 9 of parasitism, the mitochondria-containing vacuoles and myelin-like figures show signs of degeneration. The results of this study have confirmed that C. flavipes manipulates the physiology and biochemistry of D. saccharalis because the Malpighian tubules of the parasitized larvae remain active until the parasitoid completes its pupal stage and is released from the host organism.
Highlights
Malpighian tubules serve as the main excretory organs of insects
The ampullar and rectal regions of the Malpighian tubules of D. saccharalis and those parasitized by C. flavipes for 5 and 9 days showed the following characteristics; 3.1
Electron-dense mitochondria were observed in the basal and apical regions, with the apical surface containing microvilli that were in contact with the lumen (Figure 2(e))
Summary
Malpighian tubules serve as the main excretory organs of insects. They differ among species and various developmental stages of the same species, the tubules are generally long, narrow, and consist of a single layer of epithelial cells [1]-[5]. The Malpighian tubules provide minerals for the maintenance of vital processes, which are stored in the form of spherites [9]. The Malpighian tubules supply metabolites that support symbiotic microorganisms that thrive in the ileum [10], as well as regulate lipid production [11]
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