IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF TREHALASE INHIBITOR IN SOME INSECTSPECIES

Antibody against cockroach trehalase inhibitor was prepared and tested against the plasma of adult locusts and larval silkworms to determine whether these species possess a similar protein. An immunopositive re sponse was elicited in both species. Studies using immunogold labeling show that adult cockroaches have trehalase inhibitor protein in granu les of plasmatocytes and in oenocytoid-like structures. Localization o f the immunoreactive protein with trehalase inhibitor antibody in locu st hemocytes indicated that the protein is also contained in the granu les of plasmatocytes. However, in the hemolymph of silkworm larvae, th e immunoreactive protein was found only in the spherules of spherulocy tes. The results suggest that insect hemolymph commonly contains treha lase inhibitor both in plasma and in certain hemocytes.