Summary
The fat body of the adult housefly is composed of two types of cells, the lipid-and glycogen-rich fat body cells and the oenocytes. A comparison of the fine structure of the abdominal fat body in 4-day old and 31–35 day old male houseflies indicated an increase in lipid and a decrease in glycogen content in the fat body cells of old flies. Oenocytes of old flies exhibit deteriorative alterations with an accumulation of secondary lysosomes. Both fat body cells and oenocytes in senile flies are ingested by hemocytes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bauer, A. C., Levenbook, L.: Fructose diphosphate aldolase during growth and development of the blowfly, Phormia regina (Meigen). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 28, 619–632 (1969).
Brunk, U., Brun, A.: The effect of aging on lysosomal permeability in nerve cells of the central nervous system. An enzyme histochemical study in rat. Histochemie 30, 315–324 (1972).
Butterworth, F. M.: Adipose tissues of Drosophila melanogaster. V. Genetic and experimental studies of an extrinsic influence on the rate of cell death in the larval fat body. Develop. Biol. 28, 311–325 (1972).
Clark, A. M., Rockstein, M.: Aging in insects. In: The physiology of insecta (ed. M. Rockstein), vol. 1, p. 227–281. New York: Academic Press 1964.
Couch, E. F., Mills, R. R.: The midgut epithelium of the american cockroach: acid phosphomonoesterase activity during the formation of autophagic vacuoles. J. Insect Physiol. 14, 55–62 (1968).
Dahlman, D. L.: Age-dependent trehalase activity in adult tobacco hornworm tissues. Insect Biochem. 2, 143–149 (1972).
Dunn, G. R., Wilson, T. G., Jacobson, K. B.: Age-dependent changes in alcohol dehydrogenase in Drosophila. J. exp. Zool. 171, 185–189 (1969).
Fristrom, D.: Cellular degeneration in the production of some mutant phenotypes in Drosophila melanogaster. Molec. gen. Genet. 103, 363–379 (1969).
Hochschild, R.: Lysosomes, membranes and aging. Exp. Geront. 6, 153–166 (1971).
Kilby, G. A.: The biochemistry of insect fat body. In: Advanc. insect physiol. (eds. J. W. L. Beament; J. E. Treherne and V. B. Wigglesworth), vol. 1, p. 111–174. London: Academic Press 1963.
Lockshin, R. A., Williams, C. M.: Programmed cell death. I. Cytology of degeneration in the intersegmental muscles of the pernyi silkmoth. J. Insect Physiol. 11, 123–133 (1965).
Orr, C. W. M.: The influence of nutritional and hormonal factors on the chemistry of the fat body, blood, and ovaries of the blowfly Phormia regina (Meig.). J. Insect Physiol. 10, 103–119 (1964).
Scharrer, B.: Ultrastructural study of the regressing prothoracic gland of blattarian insects. Z. Zellforsch. 69, 1–21 (1966).
Shigmatsu, H.: Synthesis of blood protein by the fat body of Bombyx mori. Nature (Lond.) 182, 880–882 (1958).
Sohal, R. S., Allison, V. F.: Senescent changes in the cardiac myofiber of the housefly, Musca domestica. An electron microscopic study. J. Geront. 26, 490–496 (1971).
Sohal, R. S., Sharma, S. P.: Age-related changes in the fine structure and number of neurons in the brain of the housefly, Musca domestica. Exp. Geront. 7, 243–249 (1972).
Walker, P. R., Bailey, E.: Changes in enzymes associated with lipogenesis during development of the adult male desert locust. J. Insect Physiol. 16, 679–690 (1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sohal, R.S. Fine structural alterations with age in the fat body of the adult male housefly, Musca domestica . Z.Zellforsch 140, 169–175 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306692
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306692