Changes in the Ultrastructure of Silk Glands of Bombyx mori after Exposing the Larvae to Alcohol

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Abstract
Ultrastructural changes in the silk gland after an ethanol treatment and the encapsulation of the abnormal regions of silk glands by hemocytes were studied. Abnormalities induced by low doses of ethanol are restricted to several cells located in the most anterior region of the middle silk gland, and to the duct cells of the anterior silk gland. The affected regions are encapsulated by hemocytes. The ultrastructrual abnormalities in the affected silk gland cells are detected within 24 hr after the ethanol treatment. Both types of hemocyte, plasmatocytes and granulocytes, attach to the basement membrane of the affected cells and form encapsulated sheath. During 24 to 120 hr after ethanol treatment the affected silk gland cells degenerate, and dense materials derived from the affected cells pass through the basement membrane. It should seem that the unknown substance passes through the meshwork of the basement membrane and attracks the hemocytes.

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