spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Reynolds, S. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Reynolds, S. E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 62, Issue 1 81-98, Copyright © 1975 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

The mechanism of plasticization of the abdominal cuticle in Rhodnius

SE Reynolds

1. The mechanism of plasticization of the abdominal cuticle in Rhodnius larvae has been investigated, using the properties of loops of cuticle under varying test conditions as a model for the behaviour of the cuticle in vivo. 2. It is supposed that plasticization is effected by a change in the intracuticular environment. A number of model mechanisms for plasticization may be proposed, which suppose that the epidermis is capable of regulating (a) pH, (b) ionic strength,(c) Ca and/or Mg, (d) urea, within the cuticle. 3. Analyses of cuticle ash show that models(b) and (c) are not responsible for plasticization in vivo. The levels of inorganic ions within the unplasticized cuticle are not sufficiently high to allow plasticization upon their removal. 4.No evidence for model (d) has been found; urea does not occur in the cuticle in detectable quantities. 5. Exact measurements of the intracuticular pH have not been achieved but straining experiments strongly suggest that a change in pH occurs within the cuticle on plasticization. This pH change is probably large enough to account for the increased extensibility shown by plasticized cuticle.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ScienceHome page
H. Nijhout and H. Sheffield
Antennal hair erection in male mosquitoes: a new mechanical effector in insects
Science, November 2, 1979; 206(4418): 595 - 596.
[Abstract] [PDF]


© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1975