Comparative study of enzymes in testes and ovaries from adult Dipetalogaster maximus (Uhler) and Triatoma infestans (Klug) (Hemiptera : Reduviidae). Correlation with fine structural organization

Activities of hexokinase (HK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), f ructose-6-phosphate kinase (F6PK), glutamate dehydrogenase (GlutDH), aspart ate aminotransferase (AAT), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and glycerol-3-phosp hate dehydrogenase (GPDH) were determined in tissue extracts of testes and ovaries of adult Dipetalogaster maximus (Uhler) and Triatoma infestans (Klu g) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), insect vectors of Chagas disease. The fine stru cture organization of the same organs were studied by electron microscopy. Results allow the following inferences: in testes from both species, most o f the glucose would be utilized through the glycolytic pathway. Amino acid catabolism for energy purposes appears to be unimportant. The number of mit ochondria and the development of the rough endoplasmic reticulum in cells o f the spermatogenic line indicate the occurrence of active oxidative metabo lism and protein synthesis; in ovaries, levels of G6PDH indicate the existe nce of an active pentose pathway which would supply the NADPH required for fat and ecdysteroid synthesis. Amino acid catabolism appears to be relative ly more important in ovary than in testis. Fat and glycogen are stored in f ollicular cells of D. maximus; oocytes of both species contain numerous fat droplets. Abundant mitocondria are present in follicular cells and oocytes . A well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes are also conspicuous in these cells. The malate/aspartate H-transfer system seemed t o be relatively more important than the glycerophosphate shuttle in ovaries as well in testes.