Induction of anhydrobiosis in fat body tissue from an insect

J Insect Physiol. 2005 Jun;51(6):727-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2005.02.008.

Abstract

The larva of the African chironomid Polypedilum vanderplanki can withstand complete desiccation. Our previous reports revealed that even when the larva is dehydrated without a brain, it accumulated a great amount of trehalose and successfully went into anhydrobiosis. In this paper we determined the viability after rehydration in tissues from the larvae followed by complete dehydration. Only fat-body tissues that were the main producer of trehalose could be preserved in a dry state at room temperature for an extended period of more than 18 months in a viable form. Thus we have confirmed that the central nervous system is not involved in the induction of anhydrobiosis, even in this complex multicellular organism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chironomidae / physiology*
  • Desiccation*
  • Fat Body / physiology*
  • Larva / physiology
  • Time Factors
  • Trehalose / metabolism

Substances

  • Trehalose