Mines E R, Hackman R H
Division of Entomology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Tissue Cell. 1987;19(1):71-82. doi: 10.1016/0040-8166(87)90058-9.
The cuticle of the retracted extensible membrane of the female locust is 300 microm thick and below its highly folded epicuticle there is a zone (5 microm thick) of helicoidally oriented laminae of microfibrils (lamellae), an elastomer layer (180 microm thick) of microfibrils with no preferred orientation and a subcuticular zone (1 microm thick). The epidermal cell layer has an extensive system of junctional specializations and pore canals traverse the cuticle to the helicoidally oriented lamellae. In the newly ecdysed adult the elastomer layer is absent and the helicoidally oriented lamellae are incomplete. Essentially the membrane consists of an elastomer layer contained between two stable layers cross-linked by pore canals, one to the other. When in the plasticized state the membrane combines low stiffness with high extensibility and during extension the elastomer layer flows. Recovery is effected by muscles and when the two stable layers have returned to their unstretched states the fluid elastomer is again evenly distributed. There is an increase in the water content and in the volume of the cuticle when it is fully extended. The ultrastructure of the extensible membrane is compared with those of the inextensible membranes from male and female locusts.
雌性蝗虫可回缩可伸展膜的角质层厚300微米，在其高度折叠的上表皮下方有一个区域（厚5微米），其中微纤丝呈螺旋状排列（片层），有一个微纤丝无特定排列方向的弹性体层（厚180微米）和一个皮下区域（厚1微米）。表皮细胞层有广泛的连接特化系统，孔道穿过角质层通向螺旋状排列的片层。在刚蜕皮的成虫中，弹性体层不存在，螺旋状排列的片层不完整。本质上，该膜由一个弹性体层组成，该弹性体层夹在通过孔道相互交联的两个稳定层之间。当处于塑化状态时，该膜兼具低刚度和高伸展性，伸展时弹性体层流动。恢复是由肌肉实现的，当两个稳定层恢复到未拉伸状态时，流体状的弹性体再次均匀分布。当角质层完全伸展时，其含水量和体积会增加。将可伸展膜的超微结构与雄性和雌性蝗虫的不可伸展膜的超微结构进行了比较。
