FIGURE 7.

PO activity regulating bacteria number in hindgut and feces. A–C, PO activities were compared among different parts of gut contents from V-3 larvae (A) as well as among HG2 contents (B) and fresh feces (C) from V-3 and wandering-stage larvae, respectively. PO activities in the gut contents of V-3 larvae are: HG2>HG1>MG3 (A). PO activities in the hindgut contents (B) and fresh feces (C) of V-3 larvae were higher than in those of wandering-stage larvae, respectively. Columns represent the mean of individual animal measurements ± S.E. (n = 5). D–F, bacteria number in the gut contents and fresh feces. Bacteria colonies in the gut contents and fresh feces from V-3 and wandering-stage larvae as shown in A–C, were counted after being cultured. The bacterial number was significantly lower when PO activity was high in gut contents (D, E) and fresh feces (F). Each dot corresponds to the colonies of bacteria suspended from gut content or feces from one silkworm larva. The average for each group is indicated by a horizontal black bar (n = 7). Significant differences were calculated using an unpaired t test program.