Summary
Wing discs of the Indian meal moth may be cultured for extended periods in vitro. The discs produced a tanned cuticle after continuous incubation with β-ecdysone in medium conditioned with fat body or after a 24-h pulse incubation with β-ecdysone in plain medium. We investigated the ultrastructure of the cuticle deposited by such discs. We found that the treatment that produced the most complete cuticle in vitro was the 24-h pulse of hormone. We observed that cuticle formation in vitro was not “all-or-none.” Depending on culture conditions, discs produced cuticulin only, complete epicuticle, epicuticle plus diffuse endocuticle, epicuticle plus lamellate endocuticle, or even multiple layers of cuticle. The ultrastructural evidence suggests that continuous incubation with β-ecdysone in plain medium does not always inhibit cuticle formationper se, but does prevent tanning of the partially formed cuticle.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dutkowski, A.B., Oberlander, H.: Interactions between beta-ecdysone and fat body during wing disk development in vitro. J. Insect Physiol.20, 743–749 (1974)
Fristrom, J.W.: The biochemistry of imaginal disk development. In: Biology of Imaginal Disks (H. Ursprung and R. Nöthiger, (eds), pp. 109–154 Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer (1972)
Fristrom, J.W., Logan, W.R., Murphy, C.: The synthetic and minimal culture requirements for evagination of imaginal discs ofDrosophila melanogaster in vitro. Develop. Biol.33, 441–456 (1973).
Huxley, H.E., Zubay, G.: Preferential staining of nucleic acid containing structures for electron microscopy. J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol.11, 273–296 (1961)
Locke, M.: The structure and formation of the integument in insects. In: Physiology of Insecta. (M. Rockstein, ed.) Vol. III. New York: Academic Press, Inc., p. 379–470, 1964)
Locke, M.: The structure of an epidermal cell during the development of the protein epicuticle and the uptake of molting fluid in an insect. J. Morph.127, 7–40 (1969)
Locke, M.: The role of plasma membrane plaques and golgi complex vesicles in cuticle deposition during the moult/intermoult cycle. In: The Insect Integument (H.R. Hepburn, ed.), Amsterdam, Oxford, New York: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., pp. 237–258 (1976)
Luft, J.H.: Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol.9, 409–414 (1961)
Mandaron, P.: Effects of α-ecdysone, β-ecdysone and inokosterone on the in vitro evagination ofDrosophila leg discs and the subsequent differentiation of imaginal integumentary structures. Develop. Biol.31, 101–113 (1973)
Mandaron, P.: Ultrastructure des disques de patte de Drosophile cultivés in vitro. Evagination, secretion de la cuticule nymphale et apolysis. Wilhelm Roux's Archives179, 185–190 (1976)
Marks, E.P.: Effects of ecdysterone on the deposition of cockroach cuticle in vitro. Biol. Bull.142, 293–301 (1972)
Milner, M.J., Sang, J.H.: Relative activities of α-ecdysone and β-ecdysone for the differentiation in vitro ofDrosophila melanogaster imaginal discs. Cell3, 141–143 (1974)
Mitchell, H.K., Weber-Tracy, U.M., Schaar, G.: Aspects of cuticle formation inDrosophila melanogaster. J. Exp. Zool.176, 429–444 (1971)
Mitsui, T., Riddiford, L.M.: Pupal cuticle formation byManduca sexta epidermis in vitro: Patterns of ecdysone sensitivity. Develop. Biol.54, 172–186 (1976)
Oberlander, H.: Hormonal control of growth and differentiation of insect tissues cultured in vitro. In Vitro12, 225–235 (1976)
Oberlander, H., Leach, C.E.: Uptake and incorporation of D-glucosamine-6-3H into imaginal disks: effects of alpha-ecdysone and beta-ecdysone in vitro. Insect Biochem.5, 235–242 (1975)
Oberlander, H., Tomblin, C.: Cuticle deposition in imaginal disks: effects of juvenile hormone and fat body in vitro. Science177, 441–442 (1972)
Poodry, C.A., Schneiderman, H.A.: The ultrastructure of the developing leg ofDrosophila melanogaster. Wilhelm Roux' Archives166, 1–44 (1970)
Reed, C.T., Murphy, C., Fristrom, D.: The ultrastructure of the differentiating pupal leg ofDrosophila melanogaster. Wilhelm Roux's Archives178, 285–302 (1975)
Reynolds, E.S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electronopaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol.17, 208–213 (1963)
Sedlak, B.J., Gilbert, L.I.: Hormonal control of insect epidermal cell activities: an ultrastructural analysis. Trans. Am. Micros. Soc.94, 480–500 (1975)
Silhacek, D.L., Miller, G.L.: Growth and development of the Indian meal moth,Plodia interpunctella under laboratory mass-rearing conditions. Ann. ent. Soc. Am.65, 1084–1087 (1972)
Ursprung, H., Nöthiger, R.: Biology of Imaginal Disks, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer (1972)
Ursprung, H., Schabtach, E.: The fine structure of the maleDrosophila genital disk during late larval and early pupal development. Wilhelm Roux' Archives160, 243–251 (1968)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dutkowski, A.B., Oberlander, H. & Leach, C.E. Ultrastructure of cuticle deposited inPlodia interpunctella wing discs after variousβ-ecdysone treatments in vitro. Wilhelm Roux' Archiv 183, 155–164 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00848785
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00848785