Changes in fine structure of the ventral intersegmental abdominal muscles in the adult of Rhodnius prolixus.

In Rhodnius prolixus, after the imaginal molt, the intersegmental muscles completely lose their contractile material, and are transformed into thin strands containing nuclei. It is possible that these muscular strands are finally pinched off as mononucleated myoblasts. These residual muscles apparently maintain a normal innervation--which persists to the end of the imago's life. Moreover, they appear to show some aspects of synthetic activity after the adult has been fed: in this case, there is a growth of the 'rough endoplasmic reticulum' and elaboration of specialized fibrous inclusions.