The Fat Body of the Hematophagous Insect, Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): Histological Features and Participation of the β-Chain of ATP Synthase in the Lipophorin-Mediated Lipid Transfer

FRUTTERO, LEONARDO L; LEYRIA, JIMENA; MOYETTA, NATALIA R; RAMOS, FABIAN O; SETTEMBRINI, BEATRIZ P; CANAVOSO, LILIÁN E

JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE

UNIV ARIZONA

Lugar: Arizona; Año: 2019 vol. 19

1536-2442

n insects, lipid transfer to the tissues is mediated by lipophorin, the major circulating lipoprotein, mainly througha nonendocytic pathway involving docking receptors. Currently, the role of such receptors in lipid metabolismremains poorly understood. In this work, we performed a histological characterization of the fat body of the Chagas?disease vector, Panstrongylus megistus (Burmeister), subjected to different nutritional conditions. In addition, weaddressed the role of the β-chain of ATP synthase (β-ATPase) in the process of lipid transfer from lipophorin to the fatbody. Fifth-instar nymphs in either fasting or fed condition were employed in the assays. Histological examinationrevealed that the fat body was composed by diverse trophocyte phenotypes. In the fasting condition, the cells weresmaller and presented a homogeneous cytoplasmic content. The fat body of fed insects increased in size mainly dueto the enlargement of lipid stores. In this condition, trophocytes cont