The ultrastructure and ultracytochemistry of the basement membrane of the Galleria mellonella fat body.

The fat body lobes of Galleria mellonella are surrounded by basement membrane - a fine granular layer of connective tissue. This membrane has an affinity for ruthernium red. The results obtained after treatment of the fat body with neuraminidase, hyaluronidase, phospholipase C and proteolytic enzymes suggest that glycoproteins and phospholipoproteins are constituents of this basement membrane. The basement membrane also has the ability to bind concanavalin A-peroxidase, which is associated with the presence of mannoside residues.