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Phenotypes and number of malpighian tubule nuclei in Triatoma infestans klug along development and starvation^*

C.G.T.J. Andrade^{I, II}; M.L.S. Mello^II

^IDepartamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Biologia, UNICAMP, 13081 Campinas, SP, Brasil. Send correspondence to M.L.S.M.
^IIPermanent address: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86055 Londrina, PR, Brasil

ABSTRACT

Based on counts of epithelial cell nuclei in Malpighian tubules along development of fully-nourished specimens and in starved 5th instar nymphae of Triatoma infestans, it was demonstrated that nuclear fusion can affect polyploidization only in those insects subjected to starvation. Fusion involves up to 40% of the epithelial cell nuclei in the specimens subjected to a 3-month starvation period.
The fully-nourished insects exhibited single-, bi- and multi-chromocentered nuclei, the lattei being absent in the early stages of nymphal development. In addition to these phenotypes, giant nuclei promoted by nuclear fusion and nuclei exhibiting swollen chromocenters were detected in the starved specimens. Degeneration sometimes affecting 48% of the nuclear population was verified in nymphae which possibly fed on hemolymph from other specimens during the "fasting period".

Keywords: phenotypes; malpighian; Triatoma infestans.

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* Part of a thesis submitted by C.G.T.J.A. to the Instituto de Biologia, UNICAMP, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters degree