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https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/8937
HISTOCHEMICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES OF THE MOSQUITO AEDES AEGYPTI FAT BODY: EFFECTS OF AGING AND DIET TYPE
Author
Affilliation
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Departamento de Biologia Geral. Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Departamento de Biologia Geral. Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Kansas State University. Department of Entomology. Manhattan, KS, USA
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Laboratório de Entomologia Médica. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Departamento de Biologia Geral. Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Kansas State University. Department of Entomology. Manhattan, KS, USA
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Laboratório de Entomologia Médica. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Abstract
Aedes aegypti is the principal vector of dengue world wide and a major vector of urban yellow
fever. Despite its epidemiological importance, not much is known regarding cellular and structural
changes in the fat body in this mosquito. Here, we applied light and transmission electron
microscopies in order to investigate structural changes in the fat body of three groups of A. aegypti
females: newly emerged, 18-day-old sugar-fed, and 18-day-old blood-fed. The fat body consists of
a layer of cells attached to the abdomen integument, formed by trophocytes and oenocytes.
Trophocytes are strongly positive for carbohydrates, while oenocytes are strongly positive for
proteins and lipids. Ultrastructural analyses of trophocytes from newly emerged and 18-day-old
blood-fed indicate that these cells are rich in glycogen and free ribosomes. Many lipid droplets and
protein granules, which are broken down after the blood meal, are also detected. In 18-day-old
sugar-fed, trophocytes display a disorganized cytoplasm filled with lipid droplets, and reduced
numbers of free ribosomes, glycogen, rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and mitochondria.
Following a blood meal, the RER and mitochondria display enlarged sizes, suggestive of increased
activity. In regards to oenocytes, these cells display an electron-dense cytoplasm and plasma
membrane infoldings facing the hemolymph. As the A. aegypti female ages, trophocyte and
oenocyte cell nuclei become larger but decrease in diameter after blood feeding. Our findings
suggest that the trophocytes and oenocytes remodeling is likely involved in functional changes of
fat body that take place during aging and following a blood meal in A. aegypti females.
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