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Precocene-induced necrosis and haemocyte-mediated breakdown of corpora allata in nymphs of the locust Locusta migratoria

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Summary

Light and electron microscopic studies, including the use of the vital dyes trypan blue and acridine orange, indicate that the topical application of precocene II rapidly triggers degenerative processes in the corpora allata (CA) leading within a few days to the virtual disappearance of the parenchymal cells of these glands. The following sequence of events was observed: 1) Within 2h, many of the cells in fixed nymphal specimens showed increased electron density. During the next few hours, they decreased considerably in volume (shrinkage necrosis). Intercellular spaces increased simultaneously. Although a variable number of cells remained electron lucent, they showed nuclear and cytoplasmic degeneration later on (coagulative necrosis). 2) Haemocytes arrived at the CA sheath and invaded the CA in large numbers after 12h. 3) CA cells became increasingly necrotic, and cell fragments were budded off and were phagocytosed most noticeably after 1 to 3 days. Thereafter no CA parenchyma remained. 4) Haemocytes dispersed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Agricultural University, Binnenhaven 7, 6709, PD Wageningen, The Netherlands

    H. Schooneveld

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  1. H. Schooneveld
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Thanks are due to Helga Privee and Eric-Jan Hoes for technical assistance, to the Department of Virology for the use of electron microscopic facilities, to Dr. H.H. Boer for critically reading the manuscript, and to Dr. N. Carter for correcting the English text

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Schooneveld, H. Precocene-induced necrosis and haemocyte-mediated breakdown of corpora allata in nymphs of the locust Locusta migratoria . Cell Tissue Res. 203, 25–33 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234326

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