Incorporation of carbon 14 labeled glucose into integument and hepato pancreas during inter molt and pre molt stages of mesidotea entomon crustacea isopoda

Hryniewiecka Szyfter Z.

Incorporation of 14C-glucose and the presence of glycogen in tegumental tissues and hepatopancreas during intermolt and premolt stages of M. entomon were exmained. In the intermolt the epidermal cells and hepatopancreas cells do not incorporate 14C-glucose and do not accumulate glycogen. Both these phenomena are observed before ecdysis. The intensity of incorporation of 14C-glucose and the number of glycogen grains in the epidermal cells undergo changes which are correlated with the degree of development of exocuticle. These changes occur mainly in the early premolt and late premolt. In the cells of hepatopancreas, the amount of incorporated 14C-glucose and accumulated glycogen are independent of the premolt phase. A possible role of glucose and glycogen in synthesis of new cuticle is discussed.