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Morphological features of the heart of six mosquito species as revealed by scanning electron microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2011

Gustavo Ferreira Martins ,
José Marcelo Ramalho-Ortigão  and
Paulo Filemon Paolucci Pimenta
Gustavo Ferreira Martins*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, DBG-UFV, CEP 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
José Marcelo Ramalho-Ortigão
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Kansas State University (KSU), Manhattan, KS, USA
Paulo Filemon Paolucci Pimenta
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou – IRR, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto Lima, 1715, CEP 30190-002Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
*
*E-mail: gmartins@ufv.br
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Abstract

The circulatory system in insects is formed by a dorsal vessel (heart) that is a tubular structure that pumps haemolymph in the insect body cavity. Up until now, much is known about the structural organization of the heart in certain Brachycera (Diptera) (e.g. Drosophila). In contrast, little information is available regarding members of the Nematocera suborder (e.g. mosquitoes), in spite of their relevance to human health. Considering their importance, details of the heart morphology of six mosquito species (Aedes albopictus, Ae. aegypti, Ae. fluviatilis, Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles darlingi and An. aquasalis) were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The heart of the adult mosquitoes, both males and females, consists of a dorsal tubular structure in association with pericardial cells located alongside the heart and alary muscles displaying ramifications that extend from the body wall to the heart surface. The SEM analysis also revealed in detail the organization of the heart, including paired valves on the heart wall (ostia). This study provides a detailed analysis of the mosquito heart microanatomy and, in our view, represents a significant contribution towards the understanding of structural–functional relationships associated with the heart of mosquito.

Keywords

heartpericardial cellsalary musclesAedes albopictusAedes aegyptiAedes fluviatilisCulex quinquefasciatusAnopheles darlingiAnopheles aquasalis
Type
Research Paper
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 31 , Issue 1-2 , June 2011 , pp. 98 - 102
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2011

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