The cytophysiology of the spiracular glands of Drosophila melanogaster

✍ Scribed by M. T. M. Rizki

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1956
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 811 KB
• Volume: 98
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0362-2525
• DOI: 10.1002/jmor.1050980307

✦ Synopsis

The respiratory system of insects communicatcs t,o the exterior through spiracula-r openings. 111 niany dipterous larvae adapted for an aquatic or semi-aquatic life, water is prevented from cntcrirrg the respirat.ory trunks by the hydrophobic properties of the spiracles ra.t.her t,haii Iny mechanical means, such as valves or a c.1osing apparttt.us. The oily secretion from unicellular glands associated with the spiracles serves an important role in maintaining wat.cr repellency of the spiracles. This fuuct.ion of unicellular spiracular glan.ds was first suggested hy Wal.11 in 1900, although their dcscription had been given as ea.rly as 1859 by Leydig. Sine their spiracular glands have beerr observed in various dipterous larvae (Koilin, '13, '44; Keilin, et al., '35), and tho hydrophobic properties of the spiracles are rc?gulurly attributed t.o the secretory function of these glands. In all species of Drosophila. larvac thus far examined, t.hcsc glands are present (Poulson arid Rizki, '54). The structure and cylochcmical characteristics of the posterior spiracular glands of Drosophila melanogaster have been examined in ihc present. invest.igat.ion. XETHODB Thc Ore-R. wild t.ype strain of n. melawqnster 11a.s bccn used for this study. Observations have been made on scc-' Postdoctoral Fellow of the Amerieno Cancer Society.