1Electron Microscope Division, Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility, North Eastern Hill University, Bijni Complex, Laitumkhrah, Shillong, 793 003.
2Department of Zoology, North Eastern Hill University, Umshning, Shillong.
3Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 781 014, Assam.
*E-mail: sudipdeyrsic@yahoo.com
Conventional indoor rearing of muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis) by tray-feeding (horizontal feeding posture), associated with low food consumption was found to cause a number of abnormalities in the mid-gut cell microvilli. In indoor-reared horizontally fed worms the density of microvilli was found to be less than that of the control. In the longitudinal sections, microvilli showed abnormalities in the form of irregular arrangements, discontinuity and less thickness than that of normal worms. Some of the microvilli showed fusion at places and swelling at the tip. In transverse sections, the microvilli was found to be remarkably disturbed. The continuity of the membrane was lost in some of the microvilli. The worms fed at vertical posture, however, did not exhibit any of these abnormalities and were found to be normal.
Ultrastructure, muga silkworm, microvilli, mid-gut, TEM
