Ultrastructural and functional aspects of the spermatheca of the African Migratory Locust Locusta migratoria migratorioides (Reiche and Fairmaire) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
01 Oct 1999-International Journal of Insect Morphology & Embryology (Pergamon)-Vol. 28, Iss: 4, pp 349-361
TL;DR: The ultrastructure of the spermathecal epithelium of the African Migratory Locust Locusta migratoria migratorioides was investigated with the aid of transmission and scanning electron microscopic methods.
Abstract: The ultrastructure of the spermathecal epithelium of the African Migratory Locust Locusta migratoria migratorioides R. & F. (Orthoptera: Acrididae) was investigated with the aid of transmission and scanning electron microscopic methods. The unpaired spermatheca can be subdivided into a multiple coiled tube and a terminal bulb region with vestibule, small apical and extensive pre-apical diverticulum. The wall of the spermatheca consists of a chitin intima, a layer of epithelial cells with a distinct apical microvilli border and a layer of gland cells, whereby slender projections of the epithelial cells extend between the gland cells. Through extensive folding, the basal plasma membrane of the gland and epithelial cells form a huge labyrinth, which is bounded by a basal lamina. Extending into the above mentioned projections there are bundles of parallel-arrayed microtubules, which run perpendicular to the microvilli border of the epithelial cell. They end in the base region of the microvilli and in the basal labyrinth on hemidesmosomes and serve to provide a mechanically stressable anchorage for the epithelium. The gland cells show structures typical for the production of export proteins: ribosomes, rER, dictyosomes, as well as vesicles of different size and electron-density. Every gland cell contains an extracellular cavity, arising through invagination, which is coated with a microvilli border. Over an end-apparatus and a ductule joining onto it (also with chitin intima) the lumen of the extracellular cavity is connected with the spermathecal lumen. The release of secretions and other substances from the epithelium into the spermatheca lumen is as possible as the uptake of substances from the latter into the epithelium. Regional differences in the fine structure of the cuticular intima, epithelial and gland cells point to different functions of the epithelium in these regions.
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TL;DR: Understanding the spermathecal organization and function will contribute to understand details of mosquito reproductive biology, and help answer questions related to the reproductive success of these major vectors of pathogens.
Abstract: The vectorial capacity of mosquitoes is related to the reproductive output, and dependent on the ability of male spermatozoa to survive within the inseminated female. Mosquito females mate once, and immediately after mating, the male spermatozoa are transferred to and maintained in the ectodermic spermatheca. Mosquito spermathecae in culicines, especially of the yellowfever mosquito Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L.), have been characterized in detail. In contrast, not much is known about this organ in anophelines. Here, the morphology of the spermatheca in the saltwater-tolerant mosquito Anopheles aquasalis Curry was investigated for the first time using a combination of light, confocal, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The spermatheca in An. aquasalis share many features with the three spermathecae present in Ae. aegypti, including a round-shaped reservoir and spermathecal duct glandular cells. However, differences such as the volume and cell types, as well as their numbers and di...
15 citations
Cites background from "Ultrastructural and functional aspe..."
...…the spermatheca reservoir or as individualized in a glandular conÞguration, have been previously reported in insects (Lawson and Thomas 1970, Hartmann and Loher 1999, Lay et al. 1999, Schoeters and Billen 2000, Martins and Serrão 2002, Gobin et al. 2006, Dallai et al. 2008, Martins et al. 2008)....
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...3C, 4A, and 6D), described in a number of spermathecal glands in insect spermathecae to be related to the active transport of secretory substances toward the spermathecal lumen (Hartmann and Loher 1999, Lay et al. 1999, Fritz and Turner 2002)....
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TL;DR: The correlative microscopy approach is effective for examining functional morphology in grasshoppers, so it is suggested its use for other animals as well, especially when investigating body regions or events that are difficult to access and understand otherwise, as shown here with genitalia and copulation.
Abstract: We investigated probable functions of the interacting genitalic components of a male and a female of the flightless grasshopper species Melanoplus rotundipennis (Scudder, 1878) (frozen rapidly during copulation) via correlative microscopy; in this case, by synergizing micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) with digital single lens reflex camera photography with focal stacking, and scanning electron microscopy. To assign probable functions, we combined imaging results with observations of live and museum specimens, and function hypotheses from previous studies, the majority of which focused on museum specimens with few investigating hypotheses in a physical framework of copulation. For both sexes, detailed descriptions are given for each of the observed genitalic and other reproductive system components, the majority of which are involved in copulation, and we assigned probable functions to these latter components. The correlative microscopy approach is effective for examining functional morphology in grasshoppers, so we suggest its use for other animals as well, especially when investigating body regions or events that are difficult to access and understand otherwise, as shown here with genitalia and copulation. J. Morphol. 278:334-359, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
15 citations
Cites background or result from "Ultrastructural and functional aspe..."
...This is further supported by Lay et al. (1999) in which it is noted that “longitudinal and transverse muscles overlay” the entire complex....
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...…into the female’s spermathecal duct where it ruptured either further in or at the first narrow U-shaped bend, a structurally limiting situation similar to what we have observed in M. rotundipennis (Kyl, 1938; Gregory, 1965; Pickford and Gillott, 1971; Whitman and Loher, 1984; Lay et al., 1999)....
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Journal Article•
TL;DR: The spermathecae of four species of Eurydema were compared using both light and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images to find out which ones have strongly sclerotized and median sperMathecal dilations a resemble balloons and sclerotinized rods.
Abstract: The spermathecae of four species of Eurydema (E. fieberi Schummel 1837, E. oleraceum (Linnaeus 1758), E. ornatum (Linnaeus, 1758), and E. spectabilis Horvath, 1882) were compared using both light and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. All the spermathecae which are examined species are contains spermathecal bulb (reservoir), a pumping region, distal and proximal flanges, proximal and distal spermathecal ducts, dilation of spermathecal duct and a genital chamber with two ring sclerites. Spermathecal bulb shape is changed from oval or oblong (E. fieberi) semi –oblong (E. oleraceum, E. ornatum) ,and semi-spherical (E. spectabilis). Distal and proximal flanges of four species of Eurydema have strongly sclerotized and median spermathecal dilations a resemble balloons and sclerotized rods are present. Generally, in all species proximal spermathecal duct is long with muscular surface.
11 citations
Cites background from "Ultrastructural and functional aspe..."
...The spermatheca that open into the anterior tract of the common oviduct plays a significant role in many functions such as sperm storage, nourishment of the spermatozoa, fertilization and oviposition [8, 9, 17-20, 25, 28, 31]....
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TL;DR: A step-by-step protocol for tissue dissection, isolating spermathecae, and determining the mating status of females was developed specifically for D. suzukii and demonstrated applicability for both field collected flies and flies reared in the lab, including fly specimens stored on a long-term basis.
Abstract: The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an emerging invasive pest, which attacks a wide variety of fruits and berries. Although previous studies have focused on different aspects of D. suzukii reproductive biology, there are no protocols available for determining the mating status of D. suzukii females and drosophilids in general. In this study, a step-by-step protocol for tissue dissection, isolating spermathecae, and determining the mating status of females was developed specifically for D. suzukii. This protocol is an effective and relatively quick method for determining female mating status. It has important applications from exploring reproductive output of D. suzukii females to understanding the biology of D. suzukii winter morph, which presumably plays the main role in the overwintering of this invasive species. We demonstrated applicability of this protocol for both field collected flies and flies reared in the lab, including fly specimens stored on a long-term basis.
10 citations
Cites background from "Ultrastructural and functional aspe..."
...Spermathecae morphology has been studied in several orders; Blattodea [22], Orthoptera [23], Coleoptera [24–27], Heteroptera [28–31], Hymenoptera [32,33], and Diptera [34–39] including D. melanogaster [17–19,21]....
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...Spermathecae morphology has been studied in several orders; Blattodea [22], Orthoptera [23], Coleopter [24–27], Heter ptera [28–31], Hymenoptera [32,33], and Diptera [34–39] including D....
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...Spermathecae morphology has been studied in several orders; Blattodea [22], Orthoptera [23], Coleoptera [24–27], Heteroptera [28–31], Hymenoptera [32,33], and Diptera [34–39] including D....
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...Spermathecae morphology has been studied in several orders; Blattodea [22], Orthoptera [23], Coleopter [24–27], Heter ptera [28–31], Hymenoptera [32,33], and Diptera [34–39] including D. melanogaster [17–19,21]....
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TL;DR: The white secretions from the tubules of the male accessory glands of Locusta migratoria are transferred during mating to the female's spermatheca and the role of themale during the reproductive process is extended.
Abstract: The white secretions (WS) from the tubules of the male accessory glands (AG) of Locusta migratoria are composed of peptides and proteins. The WS are transferred during mating to the female's spermatheca. They have been followed to their destinations with immunological and radioactive marker techniques. In the spermatheca, peptides are split off from WS-protein complexes, permeate the spermathecal epithelium via glandular cells, enter the hemolymph and attach to other proteins in various target organs such as the dorsal fat body, the preterminal/terminal oocytes, and the follicular cells. In developing eggs, they concentrate at the posterior pole where sperm enters the egg, and in early embryogenesis they are found in the germ band. These results extend the functions of the spermatheca and the role of the male during the reproductive process.
9 citations
References
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TL;DR: The present review is devoted to the exocrine glands derived from epidermis; glands associated with the preoral cavity (mandibular, salivary, etc) and genital apparatus are not dealt with except for the sake of comparison.
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716 citations
TL;DR: The structures described in regions of muscle attachment in Apterygota are similar to those recorded for other arthropods and appear to be cytoskeletal in function.
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131 citations
TL;DR: The detailed structure of the cockroach spermatheca is described and discussed firstly as an example of an insect integumentary gland, and secondly, from the standpoint of its role in reproduction.
Abstract: . The detailed structure of the cockroach spermatheca is described and discussed firstly as an example of an insect integumentary gland, and secondly, from the standpoint of its role in reproduction. The gland comprises a cortical rank of separate secretory units, each associated with an epithelial duct cell responsible for receiving secreted materials and transporting them through the cuticular intima lining the reproductive tract. Secretory activity is cyclic, and the probable mode of elaboration and release of secretory material is described, together with the fine structure of the markedly differing intimas associated respectively with the glandular and conducting units.
101 citations