Presence of wall-devoid micro-organisms in hypopharyngeal glands of forager bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

The occurrence of mycoplasma-like bodies in the axial duct and intracellular canaliculli from hypopharyngeal glands of bees (Meliponinae and Apinae) is described. Since they are not found within cells and due to the absence of cellular alterations in the infected glands it is suggested that micro-organisms are not pathogenic to the bees.

SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY OF THE RHODNIUS-NEGLECTUS (HEMIPTERA) LABIAL SALIVARY-GLANDS AFTER STARVATION

Labial salivary glands are found in the majority of insects. They are relatively large, extend back into the thorax, and in Rhodnius, they are cherry red in color due to a pigment derived from traces of hemoglobin absorbed form the gut. In most insects they are acinous shaped, with long excretion channels that present differentiated regions which from salivary reservoirs. The glands may be relatively simple or complexly branched and convoluted. In Rhodnius they are described as being unilobed with no traces of division. The main duct leaves the gland at its anterior extremity. The acini have different kinds of cells but all of them are seen as sources of secretion. Our material has a different shape due to the fact that the animals spent 20 days under starvation conditions. New data are also obtained through treatment with collagenase and HCl. The importance of the study of these glands lies in the fact that it will further understanding of the transmission of Chagas' disease.

Electrophoretical studies of proteins of the hypopharyngeal glands and of the larval food of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lep (Hymenoptera, Meliponinae)

The electrophoretical protein patterns of hypopharyngeal glands, larval food of Melipona, and royal jelly of Apis were compared.Since protein patterns of hypopharyngeal glands from newly emerged workers, brood cell provisioners and foragers are similar to freshly deposited larval food, the identical protein bands probably represent actual gland secretion. This suggests that, as in Apis, the glands secrete proteins to the larval food, and maintain this ability throughout life, although at slightly different intensities, according to the activity of the bees.The similarity on the electrophoretic profiles of the major larval food protein in Apis and Melipona is an interesting finding because of its probable evolutionary significance.

Morphological changes in the salivary glands of Amblyomma cajennense females (Acari : Ixodidae) in different feeding stages on rabbits at first infestation

This study examined salivary glands of unfed, partially engorged, and engorged females of the tick Amblyomma cajennense on rabbits at first infestation using histological and histochemical techniques. In type I acini, no significant changes were observed among the three feeding conditions. In type II acini of unfed females, c1, c2, and c4 cells were described for the first time in this species. In a comparison among the three feeding conditions, an increase in this acinus was observed, due to the increase in secretion in c1, c2, and c4 cells and the appearance of c3 cells. In engorged females, some cells were still active. Type III acini presented cells d, e, and f containing secretion in unfed females. In partially engorged females, these cells were devoid of secretion. In engorged females, type III acini exhibited a reduced lumen. After engorgement, all acini underwent a degenerative process, as observed in females after two to five days post-engorgement.

Trajectory of Water- and Fat-Soluble Dyes in the Grass-Cutting ant Atta capiguara (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): Evaluation of Infrabuccal Cavity, Post-Pharyngeal Glands and Gaster

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphological changes in the cephalic salivary glands of females and males of Apis mellifera and Scaptotrigona postica (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of salivary glands extirpation on procreation in rats

The influence of extirpation of the submandibular and sublingual, parotid and all major salivary glands on pregnancy of rats was studied. The statistical analysis of the results indicated that there are statistically significant differences in the number of offsprings before and after extirpation of the salivary glands. The parotidectomized female rats presented the smallest number of offsprings as compared with other groups and presented some progressive sterility after the gland extirpation.

A morphological and ultrastructural study of the paracloacal (Scent) glands of the marsupial Metachirus nudicaudatus Geoffroy, 1803

Morphological and ultrastructural features of the paracloacal glands of Metachirus nudicaudatus are described. Two pairs of glands, one on the right and the other on the left of the anal canal, are formed, each consisting of a major and a minor portion. Their wall is made up of three layers: a mucosal, a muscular and an external capsule. The inner one is a mucosa the epithelium of which contains holocrine cells characterized by lipid droplets and intermediate filaments. The surrounding vascular lamina propria contains flattened tubular apocrine glands whose epithelial cells contain abundant endoplasmic reticulum, prominent Golgi complexes and numerous secretory granules. The middle layer is formed by skeletal striated muscle and the outer (third layer) consists of dense connective tissue. Each gland originates from a single duct. Transverse sections show that each duct, except in the female major gland, is in fact formed by a duct system. One of these ducts comes from the central cavity, lined by holocrine epithelium, and the others result from the branched tubular glands of the lamina propria.

Secretion of salivary glands of the Brazilian termite Serritermes serrifer Hagen & Bates (Isoptera : Serritermitidae)

The salivary glands of termites are composed of several secretory acini connected by ducts. These glands, in the Brazilian termite Serritermes serrifer, were examined through the electron microscope. The ultrastructure of worker salivary acinus revealed central ductule cells and four different types of cells. Cells of type I contain an abundance of electron-lucid vacuoles of various sizes which fuse to form enormous vacuolar structures that fill up most of the cell. Cells of type II are narrow cells in which the secretion is contained in small clear vacuoles of approximately equal diameter. Both of these cellular types have numerous Golgi bodies and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Type III or parietal cells have an apical plasma membrane deeply infolded and lined by microvilli. This type of cell is located in the acinar periphery and occurs in pairs. Cells of type IV are completely filled with electrondense secretion. The secretory granules can be small in some cells or large and similar to fingerprints in others. This is the first report of the occurrence of these spiral or concentric rings of dense material in the salivary gland of Isoptera.

A new species of Constrictotermes from central Brazil with notes on the mandibular glands of workers (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae)

Constrictotermes rupestris, new species, is described from central Brazil, with illustrations of the imago, soldier, worker head, worker mandibles, worker mandibular gland, and nest. The new species lives in a dry forest, on rocky terrain, building its nest always on rocks. In the colonies examined, all castes showed a striking reddish coloration due to something accumulated in the fat tissues. Inquilinitermes microcerus was present in most examined nests. The worker of C. rupestris has an enlarged mandibular gland. Workers also show an aggressive behavior, which suggests that the mandibular glands may produce defensive secretions.