A histochemical study of the posterior silk glands of Bombyx mori during metamorphosis from larvae to pupae using frozen sections

Abstract

The fine structures of the whole bodies and the posterior silk glands of Bombyx mori during metamorphosis from larvae to pupae in the cocoon were preserved virtually without damage when frozen sections were prepared using an adhesive plastic film. We used frozen sections for histochemical and enzyme histochemistry to characterize the metamorphosis of the posterior silk glands. Frozen sections were stained with DAPI to observe nuclear changes, examined using the TUNEL method to detect DNA fragments, and investigated using in situ hybridization to detect B. mori caspase expression. Both DNA fragments and expression of B. mori caspase increased with progressing metamorphosis. The degeneration of the posterior silk gland during metamorphosis appears to be an apoptotic event.

Key words::

• apoptosis
• Bombyx mori
• caspase
• frozen sections
• histochemistry
• in situ hybridization
• metamorphosis
• silk glands
• TUNEL

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.