Flight muscle differentiation in nymphs of a dragonfly Anax imperator. 1978

R Valvassori, and M De Eguileor, and G Lanzavecchia

Flight muscle fibers of Anax imperator nymphs, in different developmental stages are analyzed for several morphological features, such as the arragnement and numerical ratio of actin and myosin filaments, the pattern of the T system and sarcoplasmic reticulum, the number of microtubules and the fractional volume of mitochondria in each fiber. The T system is initially represented by longitudinal grooves on the cell surface, joined with vesicles of the sarcoplasmic reticulum; this pattern rapidly changes and the grooves start to break up into longitudinal segments. The thin to thick filament ratio is at first quite high (about 4-4.5:1) but rapidly falls to the final (3:1) when the myofibrils are well developed at the fiber periphery. Statistical analyses show that the measured values are significantly different in the various stages of development, also indicating a progressive reduction of the ratio variability. The reduction of thin to thick filament ratio and the variance decrease fit quite well with the hypothesis that the synthesis of actin and myosin depends on independently regulated messenger RNA molecules.

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
D008870 Microtubules Slender, cylindrical filaments found in the cytoskeleton of plant and animal cells. They are composed of the protein TUBULIN and are influenced by TUBULIN MODULATORS. Microtubule
D008931 Mitochondria, Muscle Mitochondria of skeletal and smooth muscle. It does not include myocardial mitochondria for which MITOCHONDRIA, HEART is available. Sarcosomes,Mitochondrion, Muscle,Muscle Mitochondria,Muscle Mitochondrion,Sarcosome
D009132 Muscles Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals. Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009210 Myofibrils The long cylindrical contractile organelles of STRIATED MUSCLE cells composed of ACTIN FILAMENTS; MYOSIN filaments; and other proteins organized in arrays of repeating units called SARCOMERES . Myofilaments,Myofibril,Myofilament
D009758 Nymph The immature stage in the life cycle of those orders of insects characterized by gradual metamorphosis, in which the young resemble the imago in general form of body, including compound eyes and external wings; also the 8-legged stage of mites and ticks that follows the first moult.
D002454 Cell Differentiation Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs. Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
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
D012519 Sarcoplasmic Reticulum A network of tubules and sacs in the cytoplasm of SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS that assist with muscle contraction and relaxation by releasing and storing calcium ions. Reticulum, Sarcoplasmic,Reticulums, Sarcoplasmic,Sarcoplasmic Reticulums

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