Insect integument

By: Reem Alajmi

What is integument
The integument is the protective outer
covering of the body
It is the outer layer of the insect, comprising
the epidermis and the cuticle.
Epidermis
It is the outer cell layer of the insect. It is one cell thick,
but the cell densities and cell depth changes during
development.
The apical plasma membrane of an epidermal cell
forms a series of short projection or ridges, flattened at
inside. This specialized regions are known as plasma
membrane plaques and they are the sites of secretion
of the outer epicuticle and of chitin fibers. During just
after molting, the epidermal cells have cytoplasmic
process on the outside extending into pore canal of the
cuticle, but these process maybe disappear after
maturation.



Integument
The epidermal cells are held together near their
apices by zonula adherens and lower down by
septate junctions. But at greater distance from
the cuticle, the cells are not tightly bound to each
other and the spacer between them known as
lateral lymph spaces which is isolate from the
haemolymph by desmosomes. Gap junction
between epidermal cells provides a pathway for
the movement of low molecular weight
substance, and this enhance the coordination
between cells.
Integument
The basal plasma membrane is commonly flat
and attached to the basal lamina.

Epidermal cells have extensive rough
endoplasmic reticulum and golgi complexes,
and they often contain membrane bounded
pigment granules.

Integument
All epidermal cells are glandular in the sense
of they secret cuticle and the enzyme
concerned in its production and its digestion
at the time of molting.
Some epidermal cells have additional
specialized glandular functions.

Basal lamina
The epidermal cells stand on a basal lamina or
basmenet membrane. The primary
components of it are fibrous protein, collagen,
glycoprotien and glycosaminoglycans. The
basal lamina acts as a molecular sieve. It
forms a contenious sheet where muscles are
attached. It maybe produced by the epidermal
cells, but plasmatocytes also contribute to it.
Basic structure of cuticle
The cuticle is secreted by the epidermis and
covers the whole of the outside of the body as
well as lining ectodermal invagination such as
stomodum and proctodum and the trachea.
It is differentiate into two main regions:
1- Inner region, characterized by the presence
of chitin and forming the block of the cuticle.
2- Outer thin epicuticel, which not contain
chitin.

Chitinous cuticle
Chitin is a characteristic constituent of insect
procuticle, commonly comprising 20-50% of its
dry weight. Cuticle is always bound to protein. As
it is first secreted it is known as procuticle.
Subsequently, the outer part become hard and
rigid to form exocuticle, while the inner
undifferentiated part is called endocuticle.
Between of the two there maybe a region of
hardened, but not fully darkened cuticle (which
contain stain) is called mesocuticle.
Chitin
Is a polysaccharide made up largely of N-
acetylglucosamine residues, but it is also
probably contain some glucoseamine. The sugar
residues are linked by 1-4 linkage, so that they
form a chain in which all the residues are
oriented in the same direction. Adjacent chitin
chains are held together by hydrogen bonds to
form microfibrils. Neighboring chains run in
opposite directions. The chitin microfibrils are
embedded as protein matrix, their orientation is
often different in successive levels.

Chemical structure of poly-N-acetyl-d-
Glucosamine (chitin) linked to proteins in
insect cuticles through catecholamines and
histidine moieties (modified after Schaefer
et al. 1987)
Protein
Proteins are the major constituents of insect
cuticle. Different part of insect cuticle contain
differernt mixture of proteins.
Different proteins give the cuticel different
physical properties in different part of the
cuticle, independently of the hardning
process.
Hardnning of cuticle is primarly a
consequence of cross-links between protein
molecules so that they form a rigid matrix.
This process is called tanning or sclerotization,
and the cuticle is said to be scelrotized.

Lipid
Lipids are present in procuticle and in some
insect they impregnate the walls of pore
canals.
Epicuticle
Is made of several layers, the thickest layer is
the inner epicuticle and a thin outer
epicuticle. Outside is a wax of variable
thickness. Some insects have a thin cement
layer outside the wax.
Inner epicuticle
This layer is chemically complex and its known
to consist primarily of tanned lipoprotiens,
phenolic substance and phenoloxidase are
also present which are concerened with
tanning the protein. Phenoloxidase persists as
an extracellular enzyme in mature cuticle
producing further tanning if the epicuticle is
damaged.
Outer epicuticle
It is a very thin layer, highly polyerized lipid,
and probably also has a protein components.
It is the first formed layer of new cuticle
produced at each molt, protecting the new
procuticle from the molting enzyme.
Wax
The epicuticle wax layer contain many
different compounds. Hydrocarbons are
universally present and many comprise over
90% of the wax.
The wax is important in water proofing the
cuticle and in some insects is the source of
chemical signals important in inter and intra
specific signalling. It is synthesized by the
oenocytes.
Cement
It is a very thin layer outside most of the wax.
It is consists of mucopolysaccharide which
become closely associated with lipid.
It may serve to protect the underlaying wax.
It is secreted by gland cell in the epicuticle.
Pore canals and epicuticular
filaments
Running through the cuticle at right angle to
the surface are very fine pore canals. Thus
extends from the peiderms to the inner
epicuticle. The canal maybe filled with chitin
and protein and the filament have lipid-filled
lumen and these filaments are concerned with
the transport of lipids from the epidermal cells
to the surface of the cuticle.

In some part of the cuticle, it have different
type of metals (Zinc, manganese, iron,
calcium, calcium carbonate) to increase
hardening of the cuticle (mandibles, claws,
ovipositors)

Cuticular extensions
Insects are well endowed with cuticular extensions,
varying from fine and hair-like to robust and spine-
like. Four basic types of protuberance , all with
sclerotized cuticle, can be recognized on
morphological, functional, and developmental
grounds:

1. Spines are multicellular with undifferentiated
epidermal cells.

2. Setae, also called hairs, macrotrichia, or trichoid
sensilla, are multicellular with specialized cells;


3. Acanthae are unicellular in origin.

4. microtrichia are subcellular, with several to
many extensions per cell
Cuticular extensions Con

Setae sense much of the insects tactile environment.
Large setae may be called bristles or chaetae, with
the most modified being scales, the flattened setae
found on butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) and
sporadically elsewhere. Three separate cells form
each seta, one for hair formation (trichogen cell), one
for socket formation (tormogen cell), and one
sensory cell (Fig. 4.1).
Cuticular extensions Con
There is no such cellular differentiation in
multicellular spines, unicellular acanthae, and
subcellular microtrichia. The functions of these types
of protuberances are diverse and sometimes
debatable, but their sensory function appears
limited. The production of pattern, including color,
may be significant for some of the microscopic
projections. Spines are immovable, but if they are
articulated, then they are called spurs. Both spines
and spurs may bear unicellular or subcellular
processes


Fig. 2 The four basic types of cuticular
protuberances: (a) a multicellular spine; (b)
a seta, or trichoid sensillum; (c) acanthae;
and (d) microtrichia.