A theoretical investigation of fluid transport in the Malpighian tubules of an insect,Rhodnius prolixusStål

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Abstract
The walls of many epithelial cells are characterized by long microvilli or deep invaginations. This paper investigates whether tightly packed microvilli, as well as increasing the available surface area of the cell wall, could also provide local osmotic-coupling spaces, thus further enhancing the rate of secretion of fluid. A generalization of the standing-gradient model for fluid transport is developed and predictions are made of the emergent osmolarity of the secretion of the Malpighian tubules in Rhodnius prolixus Stal. It is concluded that there can be no agreement between the experimental in vitro results and the predictions unless the cell wall membrane behaves as an extended flat membrane, although this also seems to fail at low bathing osmolarities.

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