Fig. 8
From: Development of the indirect flight muscles of Aedes aegypti, a main arbovirus vector
Sarcomere ultrastructure in pupae and adult IFMs. IFMs from A. aegypti pupae and adult were dissected and analyzed by TEM. a In longitudinal sections of pupae muscle, still in growth, short sarcomeres well-structured (~ 1.95 μm), showing the Z-discs and M-lines (magenta and yellow colors, respectively) were observed. Large and elongated mitochondria were seen. b Adult mosquito muscles showed sarcomeres completely formed (~ 2.90 μm), with clearly defined Z-discs and M-lines. Numerous giant mitochondria with tightly compressed cristae were found alongside the flight muscles. c Cross section of a mature myofibril showing the sarcomeres with hexagonal arrangement. d Magnified image of the dashed box in c, showing thick myofilaments (myosin, visualized as large hollow circles), each surrounded by six thin myofilaments (actin, visualized as small black spots surrounding each thick filament), in a relation of 6:1. Scale bars: a 1 µm; b 2 µm; c 0.5 µm