Calcium homeostasis in larval and adult Drosophila melanogaster

Archives of Insect Biochemistry and PhysiologyVolume 44, Issue 1 p. 27-39 Article Calcium homeostasis in larval and adult Drosophila melanogaster K.A. Dube, K.A. Dube Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorD.G. McDonald, D.G. McDonald Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorM.J. O'Donnell, Corresponding Author M.J. O'Donnell odonnell@mcmaster.ca Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4K1Search for more papers by this author K.A. Dube, K.A. Dube Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorD.G. McDonald, D.G. McDonald Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorM.J. O'Donnell, Corresponding Author M.J. O'Donnell odonnell@mcmaster.ca Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4K1Search for more papers by this author First published: 20 April 2000 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6327(200005)44:1<27::AID-ARCH4>3.0.CO;2-ICitations: 27AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Calcium homeostasis in Drosophila melanogaster was examined in response to the challenges imposed by growth, reproduction and variations in dietary calcium content. Turnover time for calcium, calculated as the time for 45Ca2+to accumulate to half the steady state value of 3.46 nmol/fly, was 3.3 days. Although larvae weighed 2× as much as adults, they contained 3–4× as much calcium. Anterior Malpighian tubules (Mts) contain much more calcium than posterior Mts, accounting for 25–30% of the calcium content of the whole fly. In response to a 6.2-fold increase in dietary calcium level, calcium content of whole flies increased only 10%. Hemolymph calcium concentration (∼0.5 mM) was similar in males and females and in animals raised on diets differing in calcium content. Fluid secretion rate, secreted fluid calcium concentration, and transepithelial calcium flux in tubules isolated from flies raised on high and low calcium diets did not differ significantly. Malpighian tubules secrete calcium at rates sufficient to eliminate whole body calcium content in 0.5 and 3 days for tubules secreting fluid at basal and maximal rates, respectively. It is suggested that flies absorb high quantities of calcium from the diet and maintain homeostasis through the combined effects of elimination of calcium in fluid secreted by the Malpighian tubules and the sequestration of calcium in granules, especially within the distal segment of the anterior pair of Malpighian tubules. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 44:27–39, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Citing Literature Volume44, Issue1May 2000Pages 27-39 RelatedInformation