Ultrastructure of the vasa deferentia of the mediterranean flour moth

Abstract

Each vas deferens of the Mediterranean flour moth, Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), consists of a short swollen portion immediately below the testis, another swollen portion that forms a seminal vesicle, and an elongate lower portion that empties into one arm of the ductus ejaculatoris duplex. Three types of epithelial cells occur sequentially. Phagocytic cells that engulf debris from the testis form the anterior two-thirds of the first swollen portion. Tall secretory cells form the distal third of the first swollen region and extend to the seminal vesicles. The secretory cells surround a slit-like lumen and appear to function as a valve between the two swollen regions. Many membraneenclosed secretory granules are stored at the apical ends of the cells and are released into the lumen together with small amounts of the surrounding cytoplasm. The granules remain intact while they are in the male tract. A second type of secretory cell forms the walls of the seminal vesicles and the lower vasa deferentia. These cells produce secretory granules whose contents become dispersed through the semen. PTA-chromic acid staining indicates that the seminal plasma has a high glycoprotein content. A thin muscle layer is basal to the epithelial cells.Both apyrene and eupyrene sperm undergo some development in the vasa deferentia. The epithelial cells, muscle, and stored sperm all undergo extensive changes with age.

Fine structure with regard to sperm functions of the ductus ejaculatoris duplex of the male reproductive tract ofHeliothis armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

“…The opposite is the situation in H. armigera, circular layer being inside and longitudinal layer being outside. It is to be mentioned that the same condition has been reported by Lai-Fook (1982c) in Ca/podes ethlius and by Riemann and Thorson (1976a, b) in Anagasta kuhniella but the condition of these layers are different in H. armigera by having a moderately thick inner robust circular layer and a thinner outer longitudinal layer. There is a thin but distinct basement membrane in H. armigera.…”

“…There is no mention of invaginations and this could possibly help in holding together the entire cell at the height of secretory activity continuous with apical degeneration (figures 8, 10, 11). The possession of a single cell type in the duplex of Lepidoptera appears to be a common feature (Riemann and Thorson 1976a, b;LaiFigures 7-9. 7.…”

“…Pinocytic vesicles are exocytosized while phagosomes are endocytosized (figures 9, 14). Riemann and Thorson (1976a, b) reported the release of the secretions either through apocrine or merocrine means while Lai-Fook (1982e) reports of infrequent occurring of apocrine secretion in Calpodes. For Brits (1978) it is entirely merocrine, for Callahan and Cascio (1963) it is entirely apocrine and for Musgrave (1937) it is apocrine secretion coupled with epithelial proliferation.…”

Ultrastructural organization of the seminal vesicles of Baculum thaii (Phasmida, Phasmatidae) during sexual maturity

“…The presence of phagocytic cells has also been seen in the anterior portion of the vasa deferentia of A. ktihniella (Riemann & Thorson, 1976b), where both particles deriving from autolysis of nutritional cells surrounding the sperm and apirene sperm released by the testicles are eliminated.…”

Concurrent occurrence of holocrine type-degeneration along with high reproductive function in the secretory epithelia of the duplex of two Noctuid species,Spodoptera litura (F) andHeliothis armigera (H) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

“…There are only a pair of duplex which are termed seminal vesicles in Bornbyx mori (Omura 1938) because they lack the typical enlarged portions of YD to form the seminal vesicles. It is generally acknowledged that sperm periodically descend from the testes to YO, SY and finally to duplex (Riemann and Thorson 1976b;La Chance et al 1977). The quantity of sperm in the seminal vesicles is influenced by mating.…”