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Histochemical Investigations of Tardigrada. IV. Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Aminopeptidase (AMP) and Gonad Development in Eutardigrades
Author(s) -
Raineri Margherita
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
acta zoologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.414
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1463-6395
pISSN - 0001-7272
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6395.1987.tb00894.x
Subject(s) - biology , gonad , alkaline phosphatase , malpighian tubule system , endocrinology , medicine , excretory system , ovary , aminopeptidase , sexual maturity , enzyme , hindgut , biochemistry , midgut , larva , botany , leucine , amino acid
In tardigrades of the genus Macrobiotus histochemically localized alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aminopeptidase (AMP) are taken as markers of absorptive/secretory cells. The enzyme reaction intensity is also related to different metabolic activities of the body tissues and compared with other histochemical and histological features of the cells. ALP and AMP distribution pattern is investigated in the Malpighian tubules, the gut, ovary, testicle and the storage and epidermal cells during female and male gonad development. The results strongly support the hypothesis that the Malpighian tubules are osmoregulatory‐excretory organs and may also perform secretory functions. They show morpho‐functional variations which are related to sexual maturity and differ in the female and the male: possible physiological roles are discussed. In the female all the tissues here examined undergo changes in size, enzyme activities and other features that show a relationship with phases of both oogenesis and molt: a physiological explanation is suggested that takes into account previously obtained evidence of neuroendocrine regulation. In the male the stages of testicle maturity and molt seem to be independent of each other and the changes of the body tissues found in the female are less or not evident.