Isolation, primary culture and morphological characterization of oenocytes from Aedes aegypti pupae

• Autor(a) principal: Martins, G.F.
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Outros Autores: Guedes, B.A.M., Silva, L.M., Serrão, J.E., Fortes-Dias, C.L., Ramalho-Ortigão, J.M., Pimenta, P.F.P.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: LOCUS Repositório Institucional da UFV
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tice.2010.12.003; http://www.locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/14060
• topic: Aedes aegypti; Oenocyte; Primary culture; Morphology; Mosquito

Oenocytes are ectodermic cells that participate in a number of critical physiological roles such as detoxification and lipid storage and metabolism in insects. In light of the lack of information on oenocytes from Aedes aegypti and the potential role of these cells in the biology of this major yellow fever and dengue vector, we developed a protocol to purify and maintain Ae. aegypti pupa oenocytes in primary culture. Ae. aegypti oenocytes were cultured as clustered and as isolated ovoid cells with a smooth surface. Our results demonstrate that these cells remain viable in cell culture for at least two months. We also investigated their morphology in vivo and in vitro using light, confocal, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. This work is the first successful attempt in isolating and maintaining Ae. aegypti oenocytes in culture, and a significant step towards understanding the role of this cell type in this important disease vector. The purification and the development of primary cultures of insect oenocytes will allow future studies of their metabolism in producing and secreting compounds.