CYTOSKELETON OF LARVAL AND ADULT SALIVARY-GLANDS OF THE DIPTERAN CERATITIS-CAPITATA - IMPLICATION OF MICROFILAMENTS AND MICROTUBULES IN SALIVA DISCHARGE

The distribution of microfilaments and microtubules were analyzed in l arval and adult salivary glands of the dipteran Ceratitis capitata. An extensive muscle fibre network was seen to surround the larval saliva ry glands, but was absent in the adult glands. Microfilaments and micr otubules were localized in different cytoplasmic domains in the adult salivary gland epithelium: microfilaments were found in the apical reg ion of the cells, while microtubules were concentrated in the basal re gion of cells forming the proximal part of the epithelium and in the a pical region of the distal part. Transmission electron microscope obse rvations showed that the distribution of microtubules and microfilamen ts is correlated with Saliva production. The implications of these cyt oskeletal elements in discharging salivary gland content is also discu ssed.