School of Biological Sciences

Publication abstract

RELATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF APOCRINE AND ECCRINE SECRETION TO DIGESTIVE ENZYME-RELEASE FROM MIDGUT CELLS OF STOMOXYS- CALCITRANS (INSECTA, DIPTERA)

Authors: Wood, AR., Lehane, MJ.,

Year of publication:1991

Journal: Journal of Insect Physiology, , Volume: 37(2), Pages: 161-166.

Publisher: Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd

A morphometric analysis of the secretory process in the midgut opaque zone cells of the stablefly, Stomoxys calcitrans, shows that over half the stored secretory granules are released from the cell in the first 5 min after the blood meal. The analysis suggests that the majority of digestive enzyme secretion is achieved by eccrine means. Apocrine secretion may play a substantial role in the early burst of secretory activity which immediately follows the blood meal. Assuming that membrane recycling follows eccrine secretion from these cells the membrane recovery rates calculated (1.99 times the apical surface area of the cell in 5 min) are remarkably fast.