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First published online August 22, 2008
Journal of Experimental Biology 211, 2792-2798 (2008)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2008
doi: 10.1242/jeb.019836
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The physiology of the midgut of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz and Neiva 1912): pH in different physiological conditions and mechanisms involved in its control

Vânia C. Santos, Ricardo N. Araujo, Luciane A. D. Machado, Marcos H. Pereira and Nelder F. Gontijo*

Department of Parasitology, Federal University of Minas Gerais–UFMG, Avenue Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: nelder{at}icb.ufmg.br)

Accepted 25 June 2008

Nutrient digestion and absorption after blood feeding are important events for Lutzomyia longipalpis, which uses these nutrients to produce eggs. In this context, the pH inside the digestive tract is an important physiological feature as it can markedly influence the digestive process as well as interfere with Leishmania development in infected phlebotomines. It was described previously that unfed females have an acidic midgut (pH 6). In this study, the pH inside the midgut of blood-fed females was measured. The abdominal midgut (AM) pH varied from 8.15±0.31 in the first 10 h post-blood meal to 7.7±0.17 after 24 h. While the AM was alkaline during blood digestion, the pH in the thoracic midgut (TM) remained acidic (5.5–6.0). In agreement with these findings, the enzyme {alpha}-glucosidase, which has an optimum pH of 5.8, is mainly encountered in the acidic TM. The capacity of unfed females to maintain the acidic intestinal pH was also evaluated. Our results showed the presence of an efficient mechanism that maintains the pH almost constant at about 6 in the midgut, but not in the crop. This mechanism is promptly interrupted in the AM by blood ingestion. RT-PCR results indicated the presence of carbonic anhydrase in the midgut cells, which apparently is required to maintain the pH at 6 in the midgut of unfed females. Investigations on the phenomenon of alkalization observed after blood ingestion indicated that two mechanisms are involved: in addition to the alkalization promoted by CO2 volatilization there is a minor contribution from a second mechanism not yet characterized. Some inferences concerning Leishmania development and pH in the digestive tube are presented.

Key words: Lutzomyia longipalpis, midgut pH, pH control mechanisms, acidification, alkalization, Leishmania development


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