Interaction of circulation and respiration in insects

Stefan K. Hetz

Department of Animal Physiology, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, D-10115 Berlin, Germany

On the basis of their well developed tracheal gas exchange system, insects are generally considered to lack a circulatory system especially designed for respiratory gas transport. Although most insect species do not possess any pigments for oxygen transport, there is founded evidence for a significant interaction of circulatory and respiratory function as pointed out by Wasserthal (1996). Direct interaction of haemolymph circulation and tracheal ventilation (Hetz et al. 1999) may be supported by activity of intersegmental muscles, by the coelopulse system (Slama 2000) and further accessory pulsatile organs (as reviewed by Pass 2000). Accordingly, during specific conditions haemolymph convection may represent an important factor for respiratory gas transport. Recently, new techniques better suited for small specimens have been developed for the study of aspects related to circulation-mediated respiratory gas exchange. An overview of current techniques and recent data is presented and possible future developments are discussed by this paper.

References:
WASSERTHAL, L. T. (1996). Interaction of circulation and tracheal ventilation in holometabolous insects. ADVANCES IN INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 26, 298-351.

HETZ, S. K., PSOTA, E. and WASSERTHAL, L. T. (1999). Roles of aorta, ostia and tracheae in heartbeat and respiratory gas exchange in pupae of Troides rhadamantus Staudinger 1888 and Ornithoptera priamus L. 1758 (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INSECT MORPHOLOGY & EMBRYOLOGY 28, 131-144.

SLAMA, K. (2000). Extracardiac Versus Cardiac Haemocoelic Pulsations in Pupae of the Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 46, 977-992. PASS, G. (2000). Accessory pulsatile organs: evolutionary innovations in insects. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 45, 495-518.

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