Summary
The spermathecal accessory gland in the female of Phosphuga atrata (Silphidae), exhibits a special structure which is due to the presence of a cuticular intima lining the lumen. The wall of the gland shows three cellular types: the secretory cells, the epithelial cells and the ductule carrying cells. Each large secretory cell contains a cavity formed by an invagination of the cytoplasmic membrane and lined by many microvilli. The secretory cell is connected with a cuticular ductule ending in the cavity of the glandular cell, in a porous organelle. This ductule, which carries the secretory material to the lumen, is surrounded by the ductule carrying cell.
This type of integumentary gland is very common in insects, where it assumes various functions (attraction, defense, conservation of sperm, etc.) and its morphology varies considerably.
Résumé
Chez les Silphes et en particulier chez Phosphuga atrata, la glande de la spermathèque présente une structure particulière liée à la présence d'une intima cuticulaire tapissant la lumière de la glande. Elle comporte trois types cellulaires: les cellules sécrétrices, les cellules de l'épithélium sous-cuticulaire et les cellules-manchons. Les cellules sécrétrices de grande taille contiennent une invagination de la membrane cytoplasmique formant une «vacuole» extracellulaire bordée de microvillosités. Dans cette vacuole plonge l'extrémité, différenciée en ampoule poreuse, d'un canalicule de nature cuticulaire, qui véhicule la sécrétion jusqu'à la lumière de la glande. Le canalicule est élaboré par une cellule-manchon qui l'accompagne sur toute sa longueur sauf à son extrémité intravacuolaire.
Ce type de glande, qui se retrouve chez de nombreux Insectes, y assurant des fonctions diverses (sécrétion odorifique, sécrétion de défense, sécrétion spermale, etc.), est susceptible de nombreuses variations.
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Suzzoni, JP. Ultrastructure de la glande de la spermathèque chez Phosphuga atrata L. (Coleoptera Silphidae). Z.Zellforsch 128, 426–437 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306980
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306980