Abstract
Although the Biochemical Correlates of Freeze Tolerance in Insects Are Becoming Well-Known, the Process of Ice Formation in Vivo is Subject to Speculation. We Used Synchrotron X-Rays to Directly Visualize Real-Time Ice Formation at 3.3 Hz in Intact Insects. We Observed Freezing in Diapausing 3rd Instar Larvae of Chymomyza Amoena (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Which Survive Freezing If It Occurs above 214uC, and non-Diapausing 3rd Instar Larvae of C. Amoena and Drosophila Melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Neither of Which Survive Freezing. Freezing Was Readily Observed in All Larvae, and on One Occasion the Gut Was Seen to Freeze Separately from the Haemocoel. There Were No Apparent Qualitative Differences in Ice Formation between Freeze Tolerant and Non-Freeze Tolerant Larvae. the Time to Complete Freezing Was Positively Related to Temperature of Nucleation (Supercooling Point, SCP), and SCP Declined with Decreasing Body Size, Although This Relationship Was Less Strong in Diapausing C. Amoena. Nucleation Generally Occurred at a Contact Point with the Thermocouple or Chamber Wall in Non diapausing Larvae, But at Random in Diapausing Larvae, suggesting that the Latter Have Some Control over Ice Nucleation. There Were No Apparent Differences between Freeze Tolerant and Non-Freeze Tolerant Larvae in Tracheal Displacement or Distension of the Body during Freezing, Although There Was Markedly More Distension in D. Melanogaster Than in C. Amoena Regardless of Diapause State. We Conclude that Although Control of Ice Nucleation Appears to Be Important in Freeze Tolerant Individuals, the Physical Ice Formation Process itself Does Not Differ among Larvae that Can and Cannot Survive Freezing. This Suggests that a Focus on Cellular and Biochemical Mechanisms is Appropriate and May Reveal the Primary Adaptations Allowing Freeze Tolerance in Insects.
Recommended Citation
B. J. Sinclair et al., "Synchrotron X-Ray Visualisation of Ice Formation in Insects during Lethal and Non-Lethal Freezing," PLoS ONE, vol. 4, no. 12, article no. e8259, Public Library of Science, Dec 2009.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0008259
Department(s)
Biological Sciences
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1932-6203
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2023 The Authors, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Publication Date
01 Dec 2009
PubMed ID
20011523
Comments
National Center for Research Resources, Grant R21RR022885