| Title: | "Hydrocarbon synthesis by enzymatically dissociated oenocytes of the abdominal integument of the German Cockroach, Blattella germanica" |
| Author(s): | Fan Y; Zurek L; Dykstra MJ; Schal C; |
| Address: | "Department of Entomology and WM Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Box 7613, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USA" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00114-003-0402-y |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0028-1042 (Print) 0028-1042 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "In insects, hydrocarbons waterproof the cuticle, protect the insect from the external environment, and serve as semiochemicals or their metabolic precursors. In the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, hydrocarbons are synthesized by the abdominal integument, but the precise site of biosynthesis is not known. We developed a method for separation of oenocytes from other cells in the abdominal integument using enzymatic dissociation followed by Percoll gradient centrifugation. Radiolabeled propionate was then used to monitor de novo synthesis of hydrocarbons by dissociated cells. Oenocyte-enriched cell suspensions of abdominal sternites synthesized hydrocarbons, whereas suspensions enriched with epidermal cells did not. Our results show conclusively that hydrocarbons are produced by oenocytes not only in insects whose oenocytes are localized within the hemocoel, but also in those insects whose oenocytes are within the abdominal integument. Furthermore, these data support a hemolymph pathway for transport and delivery of hydrocarbons to both external and internal tissues, including the epicuticle, fat body, and ovaries" |
| Keywords: | "Abdomen Animals Blattellidae/*enzymology/ultrastructure Hydrocarbons/*metabolism Microscopy, Electron;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineFan, Yongliang Zurek, Ludek Dykstra, Michael J Schal, Coby eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Germany 2003/03/22 Naturwissenschaften. 2003 Mar; 90(3):121-6. doi: 10.1007/s00114-003-0402-y. Epub 2003 Feb 13" |
