Morphology and Ultrastructure of the Nymphal Malpighian Tubules of Conocephalus fuscus fuscus (Fabricius, 1793) (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae)

Malpighian tubules are the main osmoregulatory structures in insects. The primary task of the insects’ Malpighian tubules is to remove the nitrogenous wastes and other remained of metabolites. In this study, the nymphal Malpighian tubules of Conocephalus fuscus fuscus were studied with optical and transmission electron microscopy. The wall of each Malpighian tubule is comprised of a single layer of cells. The Malpighian tubules in nymphal C. fuscus fuscus have 3 types of epithelial cells. The first group of the cells outnumbers the other groups of cells and they have long microvilli at the apical side of the plasma membrane. The second group of the cells has electron-dense cytoplasm. The microvilli of the second group of the cells are shorter than those of the first group of the cells. The cytoplasm of the epithelial cells of the third group is so electron-lucent. These significant differences in the fine structure of the tubule cells were compared with the other Hexapoda orders. The general composition of the Malpighian tubules of the nymphal C. fuscus fuscus is generally similar, despite some histological differences compared to those of other species.

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