Morfologia do trato digestivo de formigas
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Data
2006-06-28
Autores
Bution, Murillo Lino [UNESP]
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Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumo
A presença de microorganismos no trato digestivo de formigas da tribo Cephalotini (Subfamília Myrmicinae) e do gênero Dolichoderus (Subfamília Dolichoderinae), tem sido motivo de várias especulações entre os mirmecologistas. Entretanto não existem dados sobre muitas das características da relação destes microorganismos descobertos a menos de 25 anos, principalmente no que concerne os aspectos histoquímicos, enzimológicos e também ultramorfológicos. Assim sendo, foram realizados estudos comparados do proventrículo, ventrículo e do íleo de três espécies pertencentes ao gênero Cephalotes: C. atratus, C. clypeatus e C. pusillus, e do ventrículo de uma espécie do gênero Dolichoderus: Dolichoderus (=Monacis) bispinosus, objetivando buscar relações entre as espécies, assim como, diferenças enzimológicas e histoquímicas tanto da parede como do conteúdo de destas porções do trato digestivo, que possam ser utilizadas para a compreensão da função intestinal, bem como esclarecer quais e como os recursos alimentares são aproveitados em cada parte do trato digestivo. Das espécies de Cephalotes foram feitas análises ultramorfológicas. Os resultados tanto de natureza enzimológica quanto de natureza histoquímica de todas as regiões estudadas, apresentaram o mesmo padrão para todas as espécies. De 2 mesma maneira, a secreção das células digestivas colunares para todas as espécies estudadas, foi considerada como do tipo apócrino. Na tribo Cephalotini (Myrmicinae) e em Dolichoderus (=Monacis) bispinosus (Dolichoderinae) o pH levemente ácido presente tanto no lúmen do ventrículo, quanto no lúmen do íleo, permite a sobrevivência dos microorganismos nestas regiões do trato digestivo.
The presence of microorganisms in the digestive tract of Cephalotini tribe (subfamilly Myrmicinae) and Dolichoderus (subfamily Dolichoderinae) ants has been causing several speculations among the myrmecologists. However, the data concerning the relationship of these microorganisms (discovered less than 25 years ago) to the ants are scarce at the histochemical, enzymological and ultramorphological point of view. Thus, we carried out studies on the proventriculus, midgut and ileum in three species of Cephalotes (C. atratus, C, clypeatus and C. pusillus) and the midgut of Dolichoderus (=Monacis) bispinosus. The histochemical and enzymological aspects of the epithelium of these structures and their contents were compared among these species. We tried to understand the function of these organs and establish how each of them takes advantage of the alimentary sources. Some ultramorphological studies were also carried out in Cephalotini. The enzymological and histochemical techniques showed that each studied organ presented the same pattern when compared among species. In the same way, the secretion 4 of the digestive cells was also similar. Besides, all of these digestive cells were classified as apocrine. In Dolichoderus (=Monacis) bispinosus and all species of Cephalotini studied the slightly acid pH allows the survival of the microorganisms as in the midgut lumen, as in ileum's lumen. We propose that, in Cephalotini, the stability of the pH is related to the intensive secretion of Ca++ by the digestive cells in the midgut. The morphological adaptations of the ileum in Cephalotini tribe provide high supply of oxygen and metabolites that also explain the strong presence of microorganisms in this region. Besides it, the absorptive and digestive capacity of this epithelium indicates that it could be a very specialized region adapted to maintain microorganisms.
The presence of microorganisms in the digestive tract of Cephalotini tribe (subfamilly Myrmicinae) and Dolichoderus (subfamily Dolichoderinae) ants has been causing several speculations among the myrmecologists. However, the data concerning the relationship of these microorganisms (discovered less than 25 years ago) to the ants are scarce at the histochemical, enzymological and ultramorphological point of view. Thus, we carried out studies on the proventriculus, midgut and ileum in three species of Cephalotes (C. atratus, C, clypeatus and C. pusillus) and the midgut of Dolichoderus (=Monacis) bispinosus. The histochemical and enzymological aspects of the epithelium of these structures and their contents were compared among these species. We tried to understand the function of these organs and establish how each of them takes advantage of the alimentary sources. Some ultramorphological studies were also carried out in Cephalotini. The enzymological and histochemical techniques showed that each studied organ presented the same pattern when compared among species. In the same way, the secretion 4 of the digestive cells was also similar. Besides, all of these digestive cells were classified as apocrine. In Dolichoderus (=Monacis) bispinosus and all species of Cephalotini studied the slightly acid pH allows the survival of the microorganisms as in the midgut lumen, as in ileum's lumen. We propose that, in Cephalotini, the stability of the pH is related to the intensive secretion of Ca++ by the digestive cells in the midgut. The morphological adaptations of the ileum in Cephalotini tribe provide high supply of oxygen and metabolites that also explain the strong presence of microorganisms in this region. Besides it, the absorptive and digestive capacity of this epithelium indicates that it could be a very specialized region adapted to maintain microorganisms.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Formiga, Ileo, Histoquimica, Ultramorfologia, Ventrículo, Ants
Como citar
BUTION, Murillo Lino. Morfologia do trato digestivo de formigas. 2006. v, 96 f. Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências, 2006.