Cell Types, Morphology, and Evolution of Animal Excretory Organs

Ultrastructure of the Excretory Organs of Bombus morio (Hymenoptera: Bombini): Bee Without Rectal Pads

Microscopy and Microanalysis ◽

10.1017/s143192761301372x ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 285-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Wagner Gonzaga Gonçalves ◽

Maria do Carmo Queiroz Fialho ◽

Dihego Oliveira Azevedo ◽

José Cola Zanuncio ◽

José Eduardo Serrão

Keyword(s):

Comparative Analysis ◽

Organic Compound ◽

Protein Secretion ◽

Cell Types ◽

Malpighian Tubules ◽

Anterior Region ◽

Efficient System ◽

Ion Absorption ◽

Bombus Morio ◽

Excretory Organs

AbstractBumblebees need to keep bodily homeostasis and for that have an efficient system of excretion formed by the Malpighian tubules, ileum, and rectum. We analyzed the excretory organs of Bombus morio, a bee without rectal pads. In addition, we analyzed the rectal epithelium of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides which has rectal pads. The Malpighian tubules exhibited two cell types and the ileum four types. However, comparative analysis of the rectum showed that only cells of the anterior region of the rectal epithelium of B. morio are structurally distinct. We suggest that cells of the Malpighian tubules of B. morio have an excretory feature and that cells of ileum have different functions, such as ion absorption and water, organic compound, and protein secretion. In addition, only the anterior region of the rectum of B. morio showed characteristic absorption. We suggest that Malpighian tubules participate in the excretion of solutes and that the ileum and rectal epithelium are responsible for homeostasis of water and solutes, compensating for the absence of rectal papillae. These results contribute to our understanding of the morphophysiology of the excretory organs of bees without rectal pads.

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Cell Types, Morphology and Evolution of Animal Excretory Organs

10.20944/preprints202006.0256.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carmen Andrikou ◽

Ludwik Gąsiorowski ◽

Andreas Hejnol

Keyword(s):

Spatial Arrangement ◽

Cell Types ◽

The Body ◽

Toxic Waste ◽

Waste Products ◽

Functional Perspective ◽

Additional Cell ◽

And Control ◽

Excretory Cell ◽

Excretory Organs

Excretion and osmoregulation are fundamental processes of the organism, as they prevent the accumulation of toxic waste products in the body and control the osmotic differences between the cells and the environment. In most of the animals these phenomena are taking place through specialized organs, namely excretory organs, composed of diverse cell types that are performing tasks such as secretion and ultrafiltration. Although the morphology and embryology of excretory organs can differ dramatically, the common spatial arrangement of structural proteins and transporters as well as the similar transcriptional developmental programs underlying their formation suggests the homology of their cell types. In this chapter we discuss the current understanding of the evolution of excretory organsfrom a comparative morphological, developmental and functional perspective, flanked by an additional, cell-type perspective. We argue that a putative homologization of certain excretory cell types does not necessarily reflect the homology of the resulting organs, and that integrating all different levels of comparison is crucial for addressing evolutionary questions.

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