Fine structure of male genital tracts of some Acrididae and Tettigoniidae (Insecta: Orthoptera)

Abstract

Viscuso, R., Brundo, M.V., Marletta, A. and Vitale, D.G.M. 2015. Fine structure of male genital tracts of some Acrididae and Tettigoniidae (Insecta: Orthoptera).-Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 96: 418-427.A morphological, histological and ultrastructural study was carried out on the spermiducts and seminal vesicles of some species of Acrididae and Tettigoniidae. In all the species examined, the spermiducts and seminal vesicles have a monolayered secretory epithelium. Only the species of Acrididae have the sac with a flattened epithelium. Furthermore, in the most distal tubule region of the seminal vesicles of Eyprepocnemis plorans plorans, a rather characteristic secretory mechanism was found: the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells contained a large vesicle delimited by tightly packed microvilli. Numerous small vesicles open into this large vesicle which gradually dilates to merge with the apical plasma membrane releasing its contents into the lumen. Spermiophagic activity was found in all the species investigated. In the Tettigoniidae, this activity was found only in some epithelial cells of the seminal vesicle wall; in the species of the Acrididae the spermiophagic activity was carried out in the spermiduct lumen by an epithelial-type cellular group. Spermiophagic activity is discussed as well as its role in the reproduction of these insects.

Histology and ultrastructure of the testis and vas deferens in Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Orthoptera, Acrididae)

“…In males, this process takes place in reproductive organs and after copulation, it proceeds in receptaculum seminis (spermatheca) in female individuals. The male reproductive system of insects is composed of a pair of testes produces spermatodesm, a pair of sperm ducts called vas deferens allows spermatodesm transfer from the testes to the ejaculatory duct, a pair of seminal vesicles store spermatodesm, an ejaculatory duct, and a pair of accessory glands open to the ejaculatory duct (Happ, ; Jones, Taub‐Montemayor, & Rankin, ; Liu, Zhang, Ma, & Guo, ; Polat, ; Viscuso, Barone, Sottile, & Narcisi, ; Viscuso, Brundo, Marletta, & Vitale, ; Viscuso, Narcisi, & Sottile, ).…”

“…In addition, revealing the detailed structure leads to enhance the information about the reproduction of insects. Thus, this data can be used as the basis of the further studies about the male reproductive systems of insects (Jones et al, ; Liu et al, ; Viscuso et al, ). In line with this objective, in this study, we examined the testis structure of meadow grasshopper P. parallelus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera, Acrididae) with the use of light microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM).…”

Lectin binding sites on the plasma membranes of Orthoptera Tettigonioidea spermatodesms

“…The semithin sections, 750 nm thick, were placed on slides and stained with 0.5% toluidine blue in 0.1 M, pH 7.4 Sörensen buffer. The ultrathin sections, 70 nm thick, were placed on 300 mesh copper‐rhodium grids and contrasted in uranyl acetate and lead citrate (Viscuso, Brundo, Marletta, & Vitale, 2015). Observations were made with Philips CM 10 electron microscope at 60 kV and with Hitachi 7,000 at 70 kV.…”

“…Vitale, 2015). Observations were made with Philips CM 10 electron microscope at 60 kV and with Hitachi 7,000 at 70 kV.Data about utilized lectins, their concentration, inhibitors, and saccharide residues highlighted are reported inTable 2.…”

Accessory glands of male reproductive system in Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera: Acrididae): A light and electron microscopic study

“…The male insects' reproductive system is consisted of two testes, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, an ejaculatory duct and accessory glands (Jones, Taub-Montemayor, & Rankin, 2013;Liu, Zhang, Ma, & Guo, 2005;Viscuso, Brundo, Marletta, & Vitale, 2014;Viscuso, Narcisi, & Sottile, 1999).…”