| Abstrakt: |
Despite differences in surface morphology and fine structure, the permeabilities of untreated scorpion sternite and pleural cuticle to water are similar (0.69 versus 0.79 μg·cm−2·h−1·mm Hg−1). Hexane applied to pleural membrane increased its permeability 9-fold, but neither hexane nor chloroform: methanol had much effect on sternite permeability. When sternite cuticle was treated with 1.0 N KOH followed by chloroform: methanol, permeability increased about three times over control values. In contrast, cockroach pronotum, which is 17 times more permeable than scorpion sternite, exhibited a marked increase in permeability when treated with just hexane. In both the scorpion pleuron and cockroach pronotum, disruption of the lipid barrier caused by rubbing is partially responsible for the higher permeabilities observed following solvent treatment. |
