Searching new functions of silk gland for detoxication, excretion, and immunity

蚕幼虫吃了含有染料的人工饲料后，结出了五颜六色的茧，这表明丝腺可以将不必要的物质分泌到茧中。基因芯片和RT-PCR分析表明，多个转运蛋白基因在马氏管中强表达，直到中、末龄，其后在前丝腺中强表达。这些结果表明，丝腺具有“化蛹阶段特异性排泄器官”的功能。“相反，我们无法获得显示丝腺免疫功能的证据。

The silkworm larvae that ate an artificial diet containing a dye span colorful cocoons, indicating that the silk gland can excrete unnecessary materials into cocoons. Microarray and RT-PCR analysis showed that multiple transporter genes are strongly expressed in the Malpighian tubes until the mid-last instar and thereafter expressed strongly in the anterior silk gland. Taken together, these results suggest that the silk gland functions as "pupation stage-specific excretory organ." In contrast, we could not obtain an evidence that show immune functions of the silk gland.