The fine structure of the trophic cells of Perilitus coccinellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

doi:10.1016/S0022-5320(68)80097-8

Journal of Ultrastructure Research

Volume 25, Issues 5–6, December 1968, Pages 441-451

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Some aspects of the fine structure of trophic cells associated with the braconid parasite Perilitus coccinellae are described. Morphological changes in those cells as they age and hypertrophy are considered. Suggestions are made which correlate these morphological changes with functional changes in these trophic cells.

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Cited by (30)

Teratocytes: Developmental and Biochemical Characteristics
2012, Parasites and Pathogens of Insects
A Short Review of Teratocytes and Their Characters in Cotesia plutellae (Braconidae: Hymenoptera)
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An endoparasitoid wasp, Cotesia plutellae, oviposits into host hemocoel along with maternal factors including polydnavirus, ovarian proteins, and venom to manipulate host immune and development. This research reports presence and characters of teratocytes derived from developing embryos of C. plutellae. Teratocytes of C. plutellae could be cultured in ExCell-400 culture medium supplemented with antibiotics. Though they did not increase in numbers, they grew in size from 15.5 ± 0.6 im during hatching to 37.2 ± 9.6 μm at 8 days after hatching in ExCell 400 medium. This report also introduces main characters about teratocytes found in other species.
Cotesia kariyai teratocytes: Growth and development
2001, Journal of Insect Physiology
The growth and development of teratocytes was examined in the Cotesia kariyai-Pseudaletia separata system. Cotesia kariyai embryos released an average of 163 teratocytes at the time of hatching, 3.5 days after oviposition. The cells increased in diameter from 30 to 77 μm until 7 days post-parasitization, after which there was no significant increase in average diameter. However, there was significant variation in diameter within the population of teratocytes during the later developmental stages of the parasitoid larvae. The DNA contents increased up to day 7. The ploidy level of teratocytes increased 4-fold (2C to 8C) from days 4 to 7 and thereafter remained the same. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the surface of the teratocytes was covered with microvilli during all developmental stages, although on days 9 to 10 post-parasitization, bleb structures were also observed on a few. In vitro analysis of the proteins secreted from teratocytes following labeling with ³⁵S-methionine showed that many proteins were synthesized de novo and secreted by the cells until 9 to 10 days post-parasitization. These results indicate that teratocytes in later stages of development maintain their activity and regulate the physiological state of the host.
Dinocampus (= Perilitus) coccinellae teratocyte-specific polypeptide: Its accumulative property, localization and characterization
1998, Journal of Insect Physiology
Dinocampus (=Perilitus) coccinellae (Braconidae: Hymenoptera) teratocytes synthesize a teratocyte-specific polypeptide (TSP) with a high molecular weight of 540 kDa. The TSP has a tendency to accumulate in the teratocyte cells without release after synthesis (Okuda and Kadono-Okuda, 1995), which was confirmed in this study. Pulse-chase fluorography indicated that teratocytes at a younger stage (6 days after parasitization)secreted negligible TSP into the medium after synthesis, while teratocytes at an older stage (11 days after parasitization)secreted the synthesized products into the medium, although the amount released was still low. Western blot with anti-TSP serum showed that only a small amount of TSP appeared in the parasitized host hemolymph, even when TSP synthesis by teratocytes was actively taking place, which also supported the accumulative nature of TSP. The immunoelectronmicroscopic studies revealed that the TSP was localized specifically in high electron-dense vacuoles. Lectin blot analysis identified TSP as a high mannose glycoprotein. The amino acid composition of the major subunit of the TSP was quite similar to that of nutritive proteins such as vitellogenin and storage proteins of some insects. These characterization data, together with the accumulation property of the TSP indicates that Dinocampus teratocyte primarily plays a nutritive role for the developing parasitoid larvae. TSP exhibited esterase activity, which indicates that TSP may have an additional function in the host-parasitoid reaction.
Developmental changes in teratocytes of the braconid wasp Cotesia congregata in Larvae of the Tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta
1997, Journal of Insect Physiology
The endoparasitic wasp Cotesia congregata develops in the hemocoel of larval stages of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Teratocytes were released from the serosal membrane during hatching of the first instar wasp larva at 2–3 days after oviposition; about 160 cells were released per embryo. The cells increased in diameter from about 10 to >200 μm prior to wasp emergence. Nascent microvilli, visible on the cell surface before hatching of the first instar larva, rapidly increased in length and number following release of the cells. Irrespective of when the wasps were due to emerge, or how many parasitoids were present in the host, dramatic cytological changes occurred in the cells during the last instar of the host's development. Many of these morphological and ultrastructural changes were symptomatic of the cytological features of degenerating or apoptotic cells, and large numbers of vesicles appeared interspersed amongst the microvilli. The nucleus developed extensive dentritic ramifications, and the chromatin condensed in large clumps on the inner nuclear membrane. At the final stages of the wasps' development, the nucleus occupied the bulk of the interior of the cell. The cytoplasm gradually grew dramatically more electronluscent and less granular, as did the nucleoplasm, which is also indicative of impending cell death. Following the parasites' emergence, many of the cells underwent extensive blebbing of the cell surface. Teratocytes within a host appeared heterogeneous with respect to their morphological appearance. Analysis of the proteins secreted by teratocytes in vitro following labelling with ³⁵S-methionine showed that many (>30) polypeptides were synthesized de novo and secreted by the cells; some proteins were clearly targeted for secretion. We presume that the cells likely secrete a large number of proteins in vivo as well as in vitro.
Perilitus coccinellae teratocyte polypeptide: Evidence for production of a teratocyte-specific 540 kDa protein
1995, Journal of Insect Physiology
The proteins synthesized by teratocytes of the braconid wasp Perilitus coccinellae were analyzed electrophoretically. Non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) revealed that the teratocytes contained a major polypeptide with a high molecular weight of about 540 kDa. SDS-PAGE indicated that the major subunit of this protein was approx. 94 kDa. The teratocytes were cultured in vitro in a medium containing ³⁵S-methionine. Both the proteins from the incubated teratocytes and the medium were subjected to PAGE followed by fluorography. The fluorogram revealed that the teratocytes synthesized the 540 kDa protein. RNAs extracted from the teratocytes, parasitoid larvae and host fat body were translated in vitro in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Only the translation products of teratocyte RNA reacted with the antibodies generated against the crude teratocyte extract. Changes in the total protein content of teratocytes and parasitoid larvae indicated that the teratocytes may have a role in providing nutrients for the developing parasitoid larvae during parasitism. This hypothesis was supported by the fact that the gut contents of the parasitoid larvae showed an immunoreaction to antibodies against crude teratocyte proteins.

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The fine structure of the trophic cells of Perilitus coccinellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

J. Ultrastruct. Res.

J. Ultrastruct. Res.

J. Ultrastruct. Res.

J. Invertebrate Pathol.

J. Invertebrate Pathol.

Z. Zellforsch. Mikroskop. Anat.