Metal-salt feeding causes alterations in concretions in Drosophila larval Malpighian tubules as revealed by X-ray microanalysis
1992
Wessing, A. | Zierold, K.
In Drosophila larval Malpighian tubules, type-I concretions, normally accumulating calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are able to concentrate strontium and barium added to the diet. The concretions are not able to concentrate other metals like aluminium, iron, zinc and cadmium. The values for calcium, magnesium and phosphorus increase after feeding on a diet enriched in calcium, magnesium or phosphates. Such an experimental increase in one component in the diet leads to a decrease in other elements in the concretions. After simultaneous feeding on a diet enriched with equal quantities of calcium and strontium carbonate, strontium but not calcium is accumulated; the calcium concentration is even lower than in type-I concretions in animals raised on normal diet. Larvae of Drosophila are able to resorb cations of heavy soluble alkali earth salts like carbonates, sulphates and phosphates. All metals accumulated in type-I concretions are eliminated after pupation. In imaginal Malpighian tubules, only a few small concretions occur. Calcium-rich feeding does not enhance the normal low calcium content in type-II concretions.
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