Abstract
THE Malpighian tubules of insects serve as an excretory organ and also as a site for the storage of waste products. In the silkworm (Bombyx mori), these tubules are filled with bire-fringent crystals (Fig. 1). Early workers observed particles in Malpighian tubules and noted their appearance in the lumen during the moulting cycle1,2. They tentively identified the particles as urates, carbonates or calcium oxalate3,4. Using powder X-ray diffraction, we have established that the crystals are calcium oxalate monohydrate.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Grassé, P. P., and Lesperon, K., CR Soc. Biol., 122, 1013 (1936).
Noël, R., and Tahir, E., Arch. Anat. Microsc., 25, 587 (1929).
Wigglesworth, V. B., The Principles of Insect Physiology (Dutton, New York, 1965).
Plotnikov, W., Z. Wiss. Zool., 76, 333 (1904).
Pobequin, T., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., Ser. 11, 4, 1 (1943).
Ohnishi, E., Takahashi, S. Y., Sonobe, H., and Hayashi, T., Science, 160, 783 (1968).
Pohl, R. W., Toxicon, 3, 67 (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
TEIGLER, D., ARNOTT, H. Biological Sciences: X-ray Diffraction and Fine Structural Studies of Crystals in the Malpighian Tubules of Silkworms. Nature 235, 166–167 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/235166a0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/235166a0
This article is cited by
-
Physico-chemical characterization of Antheraea mylitta silk mats for wound healing applications
Scientific Reports (2017)
-
Electricity from the Silk Cocoon Membrane
Scientific Reports (2014)
-
Carbondioxide Gating in Silk Cocoon
Biointerphases (2012)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.