Summary
In the larval fat body of Calliphora erythrocephala, protein accumulation and autophagic activity occur prior to the onset of puparium formation. The involvement of the lysosomal system in the degradation of sequestered protein and cell organelles can be demonstrated by the electron microscopical cytochemical localization of the lysosomal marker enzyme acid phosphatase in so-called protein granules. These granules contain not only newly synthetized or absorbed protein but also remnants of cell organelles such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Ligation of the larvae behind the brain-ring gland complex prevents the appearance of these acid phosphatase positive granules. They can be induced in ligated larvae by the injection of 20 hydroxyecdysone into the abdomen. These findings are briefly discussed in relation to the role of moulting hormones in normal development, especially with regard to the induction of autophagic activity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aizenzon, M.G., Korochkin, L.I., Zhimulev, I.F.: Hormonal induction of acid phosphatase activity in the salivary glands of Drosophila melanogaster larvae during metamorphosis. Dokl. Akad. Nauk. SSSR 225, 951–954 (1975)
Barka, T., Anderson, P.J.: Histochemical methods for acid phosphatase using hexazonium pararosanilin as a coupler. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 10, 741–753 (1962)
Butterworth, F.M., Dene, H., Wachnicki, D.: Acid phosphatase in the protein granules of the larval fat body. Dros. Inf. Serv. 49, 107–108 (1972)
Collins, J.V.: The hormonal control of fat body development in Calpodes ethlius (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae). J. Insect. Physiol. 15, 341–353 (1969)
Collins, J.V.: Soluble acid phosphatase of the haemolymph and fat body of Calpodes ethlius (Stoll) and the control of protein storage by fat body. Can. J. Zool. 53, 480–489 (1975)
Dean, R.L.: The induction of autophagy in isolated insect fat body by β-ecdysone. J. Insect Physiol. 24, 439–449 (1978)
Locke, M., Collins, J.V.: The structure and formation of protein granules in the fat body of an insect. J. Cell Biol. 26, 857–884 (1965)
Locke, M., Collins, J.V.: Protein uptake into multivesicular bodies and storage granules in the fat body of an insect. J. Cell Biol. 36, 453–483 (1968)
Martin, M.D., Kinnear, J.F., Thompson, J.A.: Developmental changes in the late larva of Calliphora stygia. II. Protein synthesis. Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 22, 935–945 (1969)
Martin, M.D., Kinnear, J.F., Thompson, J.A.: Developmental changes in the late larva of Calliphora stygia. IV. Uptake of plasma protein by the fat body. Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 24, 291–299 (1971)
Pelt-Verkuil, E. van: Hormone-mediated induction of lysosomal enzyme activity in Calliphora erythrocephala fat body prior to metamorphosis. J. Insect Physiol. (submitted) (1979a)
Pelt-Verkuil, E. van: The induction of lysosomal enzyme activity in the fat body of Calliphora erythrocephala: Changes in the internal environment. J. Insect Physiol. (submitted) (1979b)
Price, G.M.: Protein synthesis and nucleic acid metabolism in the fat body of the larva of the blowfly, Calliphora erythrocephala. J. Insect Physiol. 15, 931–944 (1969)
Priester, W. de, Molen, L.G. van der: Premetamorphic changes in the ultrastructure of Calliphora fat cells. Cell Tissue Res. 198, 79–93 (1979)
Radford, S.V., Misch, D.W.: The cytological effect of ecdysterone on the midgut cells of the flesh-fly Sarcophaga bullata. J. Cell Biol. 49, 702–711 (1971)
Sass, M., Kovács, J.: Ultrastructural changes in the fat body of Mamestra brassicae during metamorphosis. Ann. Univ. Sci. Rolando Eötvös Budapest 16, 189–196 (1974)
Sass, M., Kovács, J.: Effect of ecdysone and juvenile hormone treatment of the fat body cells of Mamestra brassicae. Acta Biol. Acad. Sci. Hung. 26, 189–196 (1975)
Sass, M., Kovács, J.: The effect of ecdysone of the fat body cells of the penultimate larvae of Mamestra brassicae. Cell Tissue Res. 180, 403–409 (1977)
Tysell, B., Butterworth, F.M.: Different rate of protein granule formation in the larval fat body of Drosophila melanogaster. J. Insect Physiol. 24, 201–206 (1978)
Veld, P. in't, Priester, W. de: The effect of short-term in vitro incubation on the ultrastructure of Calliphora fat cells. Ultramicr. 3, 135A (1978)
Walker, P.C.: An electron microscope study of the fat body of the moth Philosamia during growth and metamorphosis. J. Insect Physiol. 12, 1009–1018 (1966)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Priester, W., van Pelt-Verkuil, E. & de Leeuw, G. Demonstration of acid phosphatase activity induced by 20-hydroxyecdysone in the fat body of Calliphora . Cell Tissue Res. 200, 435–442 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234854
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234854