Comparative morphology of the midgut of three species of cephalotes (formicidae, myrmicinae).

• Grant number: 07/04547-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: September 01, 2007
• End date: October 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Morphology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Flavio Henrique Caetano
• Grantee: Flavio Henrique Caetano
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Studies of histological nature, histochemistry and ultra-morphology of the midgut of three species of ants belonging to the genus Cephalotes (atratus, clypeatus and pusillus) were performed. In histology H-E was employed, and in histochemistry techniques for detection of carbohydrates, proteins in general and collagen and calcium fibers were used. The results obtained from this second technique made possible some discussion about the pH of the midgut of these insects. The species are identical in the characters under study. The digestive cells exhibited a secretion that is typical of ants, the apocrine type. (AU)