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Ultrastructural changes in the mitochondria of the acid gland of Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Pteromalidae: Hymenoptera) induced by starvation

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Summary

The formation of mitochondrial-cytoplasmic complexes and their transformation into lipid droplets in the acid gland of Nasonia vitripennis is described. Electron microscopy and histochemistry show that lipid droplets are absent from acid glands in newly emerged, fed and re-fed insects. The droplets develop in the cytoplasm after varying periods of starvation and are not associated with acid phosphatase activity.

The mature lipid droplets are rarely associated with intact mitochondria and are probably the residual end-product of the mitochondrial-cytoplasmic associations. The possible role of the associations in the maintenance of mitochondrial function and structure is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University College, Swansea

    N. A. Ratcliffe & P. E. King

  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Birmingham, P. O. Box 363, 15, Birmingham, England

    N. A. Ratcliffe

Authors
  1. N. A. Ratcliffe
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  2. P. E. King
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Additional information

We are indebted to Professor E. W. Knight-Jones in whose Department the work was carried out and to the Scientific Research Council for financial assistance to one of us (N.A.R.).

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Ratcliffe, N.A., King, P.E. Ultrastructural changes in the mitochondria of the acid gland of Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Pteromalidae: Hymenoptera) induced by starvation. Z. Zellforsch. 99, 459–468 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337615

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337615

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