Wu Wei, Lei Jia-Ning, Mao Qianzhuo, Tian Yan-Zhen, Shan Hong-Wei, Chen Jian-Ping
State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
Insects. 2023 Aug 30;14(9):734. doi: 10.3390/insects14090734.
The leafhopper family Cicadellidae, comprising over 22,000 species, exhibits a unique behavior of anointing their bodies with excretions containing brochosomes. Brochosomes are synthesized in the distal segment of the Malpighian tubules and serve various functions, including hydrophobic protection and defense against pathogens and predators. In this study, we investigated the distribution, synthesis, and release mechanisms of brochosomes in the rice pest leafhopper . Using SEM and TEM, we observed brochosomes' consistent coverage on the integument throughout the insect's life cycle. Moreover, we identified four distinct developmental stages of brochosome synthesis within the distal segment of the Malpighian tubules, originating from the Golgi region. Most importantly, our research revealed a novel and highly efficient release mechanism involving the fusion of brochosome-containing vesicles, leading to a rapid and substantial release of brochosomes into the tubule lumen after molting. These findings shed light on the intricate processes of brochosome synthesis and release in leafhoppers, offering valuable insights into their functional significance and ecological role in these fascinating insects.
叶蝉科包含超过22000个物种，表现出一种独特的行为，即用含有微滴体的排泄物涂抹身体。微滴体在马氏管的远端节段合成，具有多种功能，包括疏水保护以及抵御病原体和捕食者。在本研究中，我们调查了水稻害虫叶蝉中微滴体的分布、合成和释放机制。利用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和透射电子显微镜（TEM），我们观察到在昆虫的整个生命周期中，微滴体始终覆盖在体表。此外，我们在马氏管远端节段内确定了微滴体合成的四个不同发育阶段，其起源于高尔基体区域。最重要的是，我们的研究揭示了一种新的高效释放机制，该机制涉及含微滴体的囊泡融合，导致蜕皮后微滴体迅速大量释放到小管腔中。这些发现揭示了叶蝉中微滴体合成和释放的复杂过程，为其在这些迷人昆虫中的功能意义和生态作用提供了有价值的见解。
