Ultrastructural features of the midgut epithelium of females Lutzomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

Ultrastructural Features of the Midgut Epithelium of Females Lutzomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

Vol. 96(8): 1141-1151, November2001

Cláudia A Andrade-Coêlho/⁺, Jacenir Santos-Mallet, Nataly A Souza, Ulisses Lins*, Maria Nazareth L Meirelles**, Elizabeth F Rangel

Departamento de Entomologia **Departamento de Ultraestrutura e Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil *Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil

A morphological study of the midgut of Lutzomyia intermedia, the primary vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis, in southeast Brazil, was conducted by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The midgut is formed by a layer of epithelium of columnar cells on a non-cellular basal lamina, under which there is a musculature, which consists of circular and longitudinal muscular fibers. A tracheolar network is observed surrounding and penetrating in the musculature. Females were examined 12, 24, 48, 72 h and 5 days following a blood meal and were analyzed comparatively by transmission electron microscopy with starved females. In starved females, the epithelium of both the anterior and posterior sections of the midgut present whorl shaped rough endoplasmic reticulum. The posterior section does not present well-developed cellular structures such as mitochondria. Observations performed at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after the blood meal showed morphological changes in the cellular structures in this section, and the presence of the peritrophic matrix up to 48 h after the blood meal. Digestion is almost complete and a few residues are detected in the lumen 72 h after blood feeding. Finally, on the 5th day after the blood meal all cellular structures present the original feature resembling that seen in starved sand flies. Morphometric data confirmed the morphological observations. Mitochondria, nuclei and microvilli of midgut epithelial cells are different in starved and blood fed females. The mitochondria present a similar profile in the epithelium of both the anterior and posterior section of the midgut, with higher dimension in starved females. The cell microvilli in the posterior section of the midgut of starved females are twice the size of those that had taken a blood meal. We concluded that there are changes in the midgut cellular structures of L. intermedia during the digestion of blood, which are in agreement with those described for other hematophagous diptera.

Key words: midgut - ultrastructure - Lutzomyia intermedia - Phlebotominae

Since the beginning of the century (Aragão 1922) Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) intermedia has beem considered as vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in southeast Brazil, according to ecological and experimental studies (Forattini & Santos 1952, Forattini et al. 1972, Forattini 1973, Rangel et al. 1984, 1990, 1992).

In order to improve our understanding of the Leishmania - sand fly vector interaction associated to the susceptibility of sand fly species to the parasite - or to elucidate some taxonomic aspects of Leishmania, some studies have been performed related to the morphology of the midgut of female sand flies and the formation of peritrophic matrix, some of them in specimens experimentally infected by Leishmania spp. (Adler & Theodor 1926, Davis 1967, Gemetchu 1974, Molyneux et al. 1975, Rundin & Hecker 1982, Warburg et al. 1986, Walters et al. 1987, Blackburn et al. 1988, Killick-Kendrick et al. 1988, Walters et al. 1989a,b, Billigsley 1990, Elnaiem et al. 1992, Walters et al. 1992, Walters 1993, Elnaiem et al. 1994).

In this paper, we studied the fine structure of the epithelium of the midgut of L. intermedia, under light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The morphological studies on the midgut epithelium of L. intermedia females may be useful for future investigations on the L. (V.) braziliensis-L. (N.) intermedia relationship because they may provide a structural framework for physiological interpretations of the processes involved in this relationship.

Study sample - Field specimens of L. intermedia were collected in the Pontões District, Afonso Cláudio county, State of Espírito Santo, and reared according to the method proposed by Rangel et al. (1985) in the insect breeding facility at the Leishmaniasis Vector Laboratory, Entomology Department, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Females which had been starved and others which were sampled, 12, 24, 48, 72 h and 5 days after a blood meal were anesthetized with CO₂, kept on ice and transferred individually to slides with a drop of saline solution; the digestive tract was dissected and the principal tomes of the digestive tube were examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) - Following dissection, the digestive tracts of unfed females were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) containing 3.5% sacarose, for 1 h at room temperature, washed three times in the same buffer for 15 min each time, post-fixed in buffered 1% osmium tetroxide (Angermüller & Fahimi 1982) for 1 h at room temperature, washed three times in cacodylate buffer for 10 min each time. Tracts were then dehydrated in acetone series [7.5%, 15%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90% and 100% (3x) for 10 min each time], critical point dried using CO₂ in a Balzers apparatus. Sputtered samples were observed on a Zeiss DSM 940 SEM.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) - The midgut of starved and blood feed females were studied. Immediately after dissection, the midgut was cut away from the rest of the digestive tract with the help of entomological stylets, separating it at the anterior section (at the level of the esophagus) and posterior section (at the level of the insertion of the Malpighian tubules).

The procedure was the same as described above, dehydrated in acetone series and embedded in epoxy resin (Epon). Semi-thin (1 µ) sections were obtained, stained with methylene blue and basic fuchsin and observed under a Zeiss Axioplan microscope. Ultrathin sections (50 to 80 nm thick) were collected in collodium coated copper grids and contrasted in 5% uranyl acetate in total darkness for 20 to 30 min followed by staining in filtered 2% lead citrate (Reynolds 1963) for 5 min. Grids were observed on a Zeiss EM-10 TEM.

Morphometric evaluation - Midgut of the unfed females and those sampled 12 h after a blood meal were studied. Microphotographs of anterior and posterior sections of the midgut were scanned and measured using a KS 400 image analysis system (Kontron Eletronik). Magnification calibration was done with a calibration grid replicate pattern (Ted Pela, Inc. CAT# 603) and the following morphometric parameters were evaluated: (a) area of the object; (b) major axis, corresponding to the longest line that can be drawn through the object; (c) minor axis, corresponding to the longest line that can be drawn through the object while maintaining perpendicularity with the major axis. Profiles of the microvilli, mitochondria and nucleus were traced manually on the digitized images and the morphometric parameters calculated by the system.

SEM - Fig. 1 shows the anterior and posterior sections of the midgut of L. intermedia and the region where it connects to the hindgut, matching with the point of insertion of the Malpighian tubules, at the beginning of which we see a thin section of the hindgut called ileum or colon. We observed muscular layers, consisting of circular and longitudinal muscle fibers along the length of the digestive tube.

Figure 1

TEM - In unfed females, the inner part of the midgut was lined with an epithelium consisting of a single continuous layer of columnar cells, generally with oval-shaped and quite evident nuclei (Fig. 2). Immediately after it emerges, the apical region of the epithelium in the anterior section of the midgut which in L. intermedia females displays parallel microvilli, mitochondria throughout the cytoplasm, a more or less central and rounded nucleus, and clear basal labyrinths, inside which we found some mitochondria. Below this we found a thin, continuous basal membrane. We also observed the presence of the septate junction, which extends from the apical region until approximately the median region of the cell (Fig. 3). The most striking characteristic at this point is the presence of the whorled rough endoplasmatic reticulum (Figs 3, 4). Lipid inclusions are observed in the apical region of the cells, as well as vesicles containing non-electron-dense material, while the cytoplasm in the apical region is more electron-dense than in the rest of the cell, and the amount of the whorled form of rough endoplasmatic reticulum is considerably increased (Fig. 4).

Figure 2

Figure 3

Fig. 4:
electron micrograph of a transverse section of the anterior midgut region of a Lutzomyia intermedia female, after emergence; microvilli (Mv), whorls (W), ribosomes (r) (x 2,100)

Figure 4

The posterior section of the midgut (Figs 5a, b) displays microvilli arranged in parallel and the whorled form of rough endoplasmatic reticulum, although in a smaller amount when compared to the anterior section. In the cytoplasm we observed vacuoles with various contents, ranging from completely electron-dense to electron-lucid; the basal membrane has a continuous shape in some areas (Fig. 5a), while in others it is undulated (Fig. 5b).

Figs 5a,
b: electron micrograph of a transverse section of the posterior midgut region of Lutzomyia intermedia female, after emergence showing electron-lucent vacuoles (elv), microvilli (Mv). Not observed the basal labyrinth somewhere regions (®) in the basal lamina (BL) (x 2,100 and x 2,400)

Figure 5a, b

12 hours after bloodmeal - The whorled form of the rough endoplasmatic reticulum in the epithelial cells along the entire midgut was no longer observed. The mitochondria, although dispersed in other portions of the cytoplasm, are found in groups close to the basal region. At this stage of blood digestion, the basal labyrinth is made up of larger spaces (Fig. 6).

Figure 6

In the posterior section, the presence of the peritrophic matrix completely surrounding the alimentary bolus is clearly noted. At this stage, a characteristic electron-lucid line surrounding the microvilli throughout their entire length may be seen. Higher up, towards the lumen, we find a large line called the electron-lucid space. The mitochondria are located mainly in the apical region of the cell. The spaces in the basal labyrinth are clearly expanded. Lipid inclusions are seen in the basal region. The rough endoplasmatic reticulum is not whorled, and gives rise to dispersed elongated branches. In the apical region, the continuous zonule is extremely electron-dense, with numerous profiles of microvilli (Fig. 7).

Figure 7

24 hours after bloodmeal - Numerous lipid inclusions in the cells of the anterior section of the midgut were observed, occupying over half of the cytoplasm, some of them displaying electron-dense content at periphery (Fig. 8). At this stage, the posterior section of the midgut has the space between the microvilli filled with secretions and products of blood digestion. We observed lipid inclusions with a continuous electron-dense line on their surface. This section also shows an abundant rough endoplasmatic reticulum spread throughout the cytoplasm and mitochondria right under the microvilli (Fig. 9).

Figure 8

Figure 9

48 hours after bloodmeal - The epithelium anterior section shows cells from the non-whorled rough endoplasmatic reticulum and mitochondria distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Lipid inclusions can also be observed. In the basal region, immediately under the columnar cells, we observe small cells with large, slightly oval nuclei, occupying nearly all of the cytoplasm (Fig. 10). In the posterior section, the peritrophic matrix is present, generally with a wider electron-lucid space (Fig. 11b) than 12 h after the bloodmeal. We observed a cell containing clear vacuoles spread around the cytoplasm and especially surrounding the nucleus, which is large and rounded, with chromatin located mainly on the periphery (Fig. 11a).

Figure 10

Figure 11a, b

72 hours after bloodmeal - The epithelial cells in the anterior section display clear vacuoles located in the apical region, granules with slightly electron-dense content, and lipid inclusions. No basal labyrinths were seen (Fig. 12). In the lumen of the posterior section, we only observed residual blood, and the peritrophic matrix no longer appeared. The nuclei were elongated and filled with clumped chromatin. At this stage we observed an extraordinary amount of mitochondria spread throughout the cytoplasm (Fig. 13).

Figure 12

Figure 13

5 days after bloodmeal - The epithelium displayed the rough endoplasmatic reticulum with its typical whorled appearance, in some areas of the anterior section, as observed in sand flies right after emergence (Figs 4 and ¹⁴). The basal membrane is undulated, and the basal labyrinths are clearly visible (^{Fig. 14}). In the posterior section, the microvilli are arranged in parallel, with a large number of mitochondria and some lipid inclusions. Huge clear vacuoles and lipid inclusions are present at this time, and the basal labyrinths are quite evident (Fig. 15a, b).

Fig. 14: electron micrograph of a transverse section of the anterior midgut region of Lutzomyia intermedia female, 5 days after bloodmeal showing whorls (W) once again, undulating basal lamina (BL), basal labyrinths in contact with region of the cell apice, microvillis (Mv) and mitochondrias (M) (x 2,800)

Figure 15a, b

Morphometric evaluation - Tables I and ^II summarize the morphometric results for anterior and posterior sections of the midgut, respectively. Microvilli in cells of the anterior section of the midgut in females, both unfed and after bloodmeal, showed that the major and minor axis are equal indicating that this structure had a predominantely round aspect. However, in fasting insects, the form factor indicated a more circular appearance in this phase than in 12 fed insects. The area of the microvilli are the same in both cases.

Table I

Table II

In cells of the posterior section, the major axis of the microvilli in unfed insects is almost twice as much as those after the bloodmeal. The form factor is similar both in the anterior posterior sections of the midgut, but with a slightly higher mean value in unfed specimens. The area of the microvilli in the posterior section is smaller in unfed insects after a bloodmeal.

The mitochondrial area in cells of the anterior section (Table I) of the midgut is similar under the two experimental conditions, although slightly larger in unfed insects (mean values); the form factor is circular in both cases. However, the major axis of the mitochondria is larger in unfed sand flies. This indicates that during fasting the mitochondria in the epithelium of the anterior section are slightly larger than in insects following a bloodmeal.

In the epithelium of the posterior section (^{Table II}) from unfed females, the mitochondria are approximately twice large as those from females after a bloodmeal. In this investigation, this is true for both the major and minor axis in the mitochondria. The area of the mitochondria in this section, after a bloodmeal, is much smaller than in unfed specimens.

The area occupied by the cell nucleus in the anterior (Table I) and posterior sections (^{Table II}) of the midgut, after a bloodmeal, is larger than in unfed specimens.

In this study, we observed that the midgut of L. intermedia displed morphologically well-defined sections under SEM analysis, with a tubular anterior section and a more clearly dilated posterior section. Externally, we observed circular and longitudinal musculature in the midgut. As for histological aspects, our observations of the midgut epithelium in L. intermedia are compatible with those described by other authors (Gemetchu 1974, Romoser 1996) for both the anterior and posterior sections.

The description of the midgut epithelium provided by Romoser (1996), based on TEM for fasting hematophagous insects, showed that the apical end of the cell contains microvilli providing an enormous surface area for absorbing material from the lumen. A mucopolysaccharide layer is adhered to the surface of the plasma membrane, forming the glucocalyx. Underneath the columnar cell layer, demarcating the epithelium, was the basal lamina, made up of a complex web of invaginations called basal labyrinths which, like the microvilli, provides a large surface across which materials can also be transported. Mitochondria are found in some areas of the cytoplasm, many of them associated with the basal labyrinths. The basal lamina may appear granular or have distinct "lattice" type structures. Laterally, in the apical half of the cell, we find an intercellular junction called the continuous zonule. In the basal region, we found spaces demarcated by their membranes, commonly called basal labyrinths. Abundant rough endoplasmatic reticulum was generally seen, which was to be expected of a cell with intensely active synthesis for export.

Regenerative cells have been found at the base of midgut epithelial cells in dipterans (Priester 1971, Hecker 1977, Brown et al. 1985, Glättli et al. 1987, Billingsley 1990), actively secreting enzymes and absorbing alimentary material. When cells in the midgut lining die, the regenerative cells differentiate, taking over all the cell activity.

We observed all the structures cited by Romoser (1996), with no morphological differences according to the method employed, except for the "lattice" type structures and the Golgi apparatus. This may have occurred because a proper technique to display them was not employed. However, the Golgi apparatus has already been demonstrated in the cells of other dipterans (Bertram & Bird 1961, Priester 1971, Hecker et al. 1971, 1974, 1977, Gemetchu 1974, Rudin & Hecker 1982, Billingsley 1990). According to Richards (1975) in his studies on the Golgi complex in hematophagous insects, this structure is not as evident as other organelles in the epithelial cells, suggesting that it is poorly developed close to the nucleus. However, some authors have reported the absence of the Golgi apparatus (Waterhouse & Wright 1960). The smooth endoplasmatic reticulum was not observed in this studies as in other dipterans, but is not an easy structure to find (Bertram & Bird 1961, Priester 1971, Hecker et al. 1971, 1974, Hecker 1977, Gemetchu 1974, Rudin & Hecker 1982, Billingsley 1990).

Bertram and Bird (1961) analyzed the fine structure of the midgut under different physiological conditions in Aedes aegypti females and observed that unfed females have a kind of coiled rough endoplasmatic reticulum which they call "whorls", and that after the bloodmeal this structure spread around the cell cytoplasm and underwent clear morphological changes as a result. The authors suggested that the rough endoplasmatic reticulum might be responsible for all the secretory and absorptive functions ascribed to the midgut. It was also in the 60s that Stäubli et al. (1966) demonstrated ultrastructural differences in the posterior section of the midgut in Aedes and Anopheles, including the whorled shape of the rough endoplasmatic reticulum in both the genera they investigated.

These studies on L. intermedia confirmed the presence of a rough endoplasmatic reticulum similar to those previously described.

According to Hecker et al. (1971), recently emerged Ae. aegypti females did not display differentiated organelles and structures in the cells of the posterior section of the midgut epithelium. At this stage, various organelles including the rough endoplasmatic reticulum, mitochondria, and lysosomes are found in formation. Likewise, neither the microvilli nor the basal labyrinths (both of which play important roles in the absorption and transport of substances) had reached their definitive form at this stage. Such precarious development in organelles and structures of the epithelial cells in recently emerged mosquitoes may explain their limited appetite for blood in the first few hours of life, as observed in various species (Consoli & Williams 1981, Porter 1986, Grossman & Lourenço-Oliveira 1996).

This may be why L. intermedia females did not feed on blood immediately after emergence, even though it was observed that other cell structures, such as the microvilli, mitochondria, and nuclei in the anterior section of the midgut, were apparently well defined. However, in the posterior section, the basal labyrinths and mitochondria are still not visible. Microvilli appear in both sections, arranged in parallel, differently to that observed by Perfiliev (1928), who found microvilli only in the posterior section of the midgut in Phlebotomus sergenti. Gemetchu (1974), analyzing the fine structure of the midgut in P. longipes females, found microvilli in both sections of the midgut. However, in the posterior section, the latter author only found the whorled rough endoplasmatic reticulum beginning four days after emergence.

Studies on mosquitoes (Bertran & Bird 1961, Staübli et al. 1966 Hecker et al. 1971) suggest that cell structure development in the posterior section occurs soon after birth, differently than in sand flies, as in the case of P. longipes females. Likewise, in L. intermedia some structures in the posterior section of the midgut were not well defined soon after emergence, although a discrete whorled rough endoplasmatic reticulum could be observed.

Hecker (1977) compared the anterior and posterior regions of the midgut in anopheline and culicine females. In all the species investigated, the cell structure suggested that both sections of the midgut performed synthesis, secretion, absorption, and transport. In addition, the microvilli are more abundant in the epithelium of the anterior section, with highly dense membranes of the endoplasmatic reticulum and the basal labyrinth. The posterior section was characterized again as having more rough endoplasmatic reticulum and mitochondria than the anterior. Hecker states that absorption of solutions containing carbohydrates and formation of mucous type material occur in the anterior section of the midgut, and that the cells in the posterior section are responsible for synthesis and secretion of the peritrophic matrix and digestive enzymes, in addition to being involved in the absorption, transport, and temporary storage of metabolites resulting from blood digestion by the mosquitoes.

As observed by Hecker et al. (1971, 1974) and Hecker (1977) in Anopheles and Aedes species, in L. intermedia, the anterior section of the midgut may only serve as a region for passage of the bloodmeal, processing only sugar nutrients, leaving blood digestion exclusively to the posterior section.

Rudin and Hecker (1979), analyzing the functionality of the posterior section of the midgut in engorged L. longipalpis females, concluded that in the first 10 h of blood digestion, the rough endoplasmatic reticulum uncoils, the size of the Golgi zones increases, and the basal labyrinths expand, coinciding with the process of synthesis and secretion of the peritrophic matrix, esterases, and lipases. From 10 to 20 h after the bloodmeal, the cell structures increase significantly, indicating intense synthesis and secretory activity. After 20 to 30 h, the cell structures showed intense involvement of synthesis and secretion, along with maximum protease activity, increasing the surface area of the microvilli. Prominent lipid inclusions and glycogen deposits during this phase suggest an increase in absorption, storage, and transport. After 30 to 36 h, structures that had been responsible for synthesis and secretion slowly changed their function and began to store and transport nutrients. Finally, after 36 to 72 h, the cell apparatus was reduced along with the end of the digestive cycle. Lipid inclusions and glycogen deposits disappeared from the posterior region.

The observations in L. intermedia are in agreement with the above description, showing that the blood digestion process lasts for over 72 h and may reach 4 days. A completely clear lumen was observed on the fifth day after the bloodmeal. However, lipid inclusions were already observed in the anterior section in the first few hours after birth, suggesting high storage activity just prior to pupation, since pupae do not feed and the recently-emerged insects were totally unfed.

The peritrophic matrix was seen 12 h after the bloodmeal, surrounding the alimentary bolus and performing its function of protecting the epithelium. However, Gemetchu (1974) was only able to detect it in P. longipes 24 h after the bloodmeal. Twelve hours after the bloodmeal we observed the microvilli in the posterior section of the midgut with electron-lucid profiles, with an electron-lucid space higher up, as observed by Walters (1993) in P. perniciosus, suggesting that the digestive process is beginning. Forty-eight hours after the bloodmeal, this electron-lucid band increased considerably, and 72 h after the bloodmeal, its microvilli were totally visible and the peritrophic matrix was no longer seen.

Morphometric analysis of some structures of the midgut epithelial cells, indicated that the nuclei, microvilli, and mitochondria are altered in the midgut epithelium of females after the bloodmeal. Although mithocondria were larger in unfed insects, these organelas display similar profiles in both fed and unfed flies. However, this conclusion is limited to a certain extent by the fact that not all cross-sections analyzed presented nuclear profiles, which limited the sampling and thus the morphometric analysis of these structures. In their studies on the midgut epithelium of L. longipalpis, Rudin and Hecker (1982) had already identified morphometric variations in various cell structures of females after the bloodmeal. As in L. intermedia, their experiments identified alterations in the nuclei, mitochondria, and microvilli.

Several morphometric studies have also been performed on the midgut epithelium of Culicidae, showing similarities in the morphological and dimensional changes associated with the digestive process (Hecker 1977, Bauer et al. 1977, Rudin & Hecker 1979).

To Dr Aloísio Falqueto, University Federal from Espírito Santo, Brazil, for help in the field work and to Mr Gerneval Luciano Batista and Mr Bruno Ávila for technical support.

Fig. 1 | Fig. 2 | Fig. 3 | Fig. 4 | Fig. 5 | Fig. 6 | Fig. 7 | Fig. 8 | Fig. 9 | Fig. 10 | Fig. 11 | Fig. 12 | Fig. 13 | ^{Fig. 14} | Fig. 15 | Table I | ^{Table II}

This reseach was supported by Fiocruz and CNPq, Brazil, and forms part of the first author`s MSc thesis.

⁺Corresponding author. Fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]

Received 26 de September 2000

Accepted 16 August 2001

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Figure 14

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  08 Jan 2002
• Date of issue
  Nov 2001

History

• Received
  26 Sept 2000
• Accepted
  16 Aug 2001