Fig. 6.

Morphological appearance of NF stage 37 larvae exposed to NANO β-carotene before (A) and after fixation and acridine orange staining according to Zucker et al. [51] (B, C), with the corresponding histological sections (D, D’, E, E’).

A: Lateral view of a larva exposed to NANO β-carotene 15 ng/mL with alteration at the cephalic portion. Note the half-shape of the eye (>). Magnification 10 × .

B: Lateral view of a larva with alteration at the cephalic portion stained with acridine orange. Note the pigmented layers in the upper side of the eye (>). It is not possible to note the crystalline. Magnification 40 × .

C: Frontal view of a larva with alteration at the cephalic portion stained with acridine orange. Note the narrowed stomodeum (<). It is not possible to note the forebrain bulges. Magnification 40 × .

D: Dorsal section of a larva exposed to NANO β-carotene 15 ng/mL. Note the compromised eye structure with reduced crystalline (>) and with over folded retinal layers (arrow). Magnification 100 × .

D': Detail of the eye. Note the reduced crystalline (>) and the disorganized layers of the retina (*). Magnification 400 × .

E: Ventral section of a larva exposed to NANO β-carotene 30 ng/mL. Note the reduced stomodeum (>>). Magnification 100 × .

E': Detail of the reduced stomodeum (>). Magnification 400 × .