Biomaterial Database

Membrane dynamics in insect malpighian tubules. 1989

T J Bradley

Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine 92717.

Urine formation in insects occurs in the Malpighian tubules by means of active ion transport and osmotically coupled water flow. The rates of urine formation can vary with time and can be modulated by diuretic hormones, developmental events, and intracellular parasitism. This paper reviews a number of recent studies in which it has been demonstrated that variations in transport rate are associated with substantial changes in tubule ultrastructure in the form of membrane insertion into and deletion from the apical microvilli. The principal driving force for fluid movement in Malpighian tubules is thought to be a common cation pump located in the apical membranes. It is proposed that modulation of the apical microvillar membrane may reflect regulation by the cells of the number of common cation pump units involved in fluid secretion.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007313	Insecta	Members of the phylum ARTHROPODA composed or organisms characterized by division into three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. They are the dominant group of animals on earth with several hundred thousand different kinds. Three orders, HEMIPTERA; DIPTERA; and SIPHONAPTERA; are of medical interest in that they cause disease in humans and animals. (From Borror et al., An Introduction to the Study of Insects, 4th ed, p1).	Insects,Insect
D007915	Lepidoptera	A large order of insects comprising the butterflies and moths.
D008317	Malpighian Tubules	Slender tubular or hairlike excretory structures found in insects. They emerge from the alimentary canal between the mesenteron (midgut) and the proctodeum (hindgut).	Malpighian Tubule,Tubule, Malpighian,Tubules, Malpighian
D008566	Membranes	Thin layers of tissue which cover parts of the body, separate adjacent cavities, or connect adjacent structures.	Membrane Tissue,Membrane,Membrane Tissues,Tissue, Membrane,Tissues, Membrane
D008871	Microvilli	Minute projections of cell membranes which greatly increase the surface area of the cell.	Brush Border,Striated Border,Border, Brush,Border, Striated,Borders, Brush,Borders, Striated,Brush Borders,Microvillus,Striated Borders
D002988	Cloaca	A dilated cavity extended caudally from the hindgut. In adult birds, reptiles, amphibians, and many fishes but few mammals, cloaca is a common chamber into which the digestive, urinary and reproductive tracts discharge their contents. In most mammals, cloaca gives rise to LARGE INTESTINE; URINARY BLADDER; and GENITALIA.	Cloacas
D006430	Hemiptera	A large order of insects characterized by having the mouth parts adapted to piercing or sucking. It is comprised of four suborders: HETEROPTERA, Auchenorrhyncha, Sternorrhyncha, and Coleorrhyncha.	Aleurodoidea,Cicadas,Cicadelloidea,Cicadoidea,Coccoidea,Fulgoroidea,Leafhoppers,Psyllids,Psylloidea,Scale Insects,Treehoppers,Whiteflies,Homoptera,Aleurodoideas,Cicada,Cicadelloideas,Cicadoideas,Coccoideas,Fulgoroideas,Hemipteras,Homopteras,Insect, Scale,Insects, Scale,Leafhopper,Psyllid,Psylloideas,Scale Insect,Treehopper,Whitefly
D000330	Aedes	A genus of mosquitoes (CULICIDAE) frequently found in tropical and subtropical regions. YELLOW FEVER and DENGUE are two of the diseases that can be transmitted by species of this genus.	Aede
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia