Stellate cells in the Malpighian tubules of Drosophila hydei and D. melanogaster larvae (Insecta, Diptera)

Abstract

The Malpighian tubules of Drosophila hydei and D. melanogaster larvae are composed of two types of cell, principal cells and stellate cells. In the anterior larval Malpighian tubules approximately 26% (D. hydei) and 18% (D.melanogaster), respectively, of all cells are stellate cells. In the larvae of D. melanogaster, the stellate cells are fenestrated and the hemolymph space and tubule lumen are separated only by the basal lamina. Injection of dyes into the hemolymph did not indicate any facilitated transfer of substances through the fenestrated cells. The principal cells of the distal segment are carbonic anhydrase positive indicating transport activity, whereas the stellate cells lack this enzyme. In the stellate cells of the transitional segment, the sodium content is strikingly high in comparison to the neighbouring principal cells and lumen where no sodium was detected. This finding indicates that stellate cells reabsorb sodium as supposed earlier in 1969 by Berridge and Oschman (Tissue Cell 1:247–272).