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

• Published in: Microscopy research and technique 2020-03, Vol.83 (3), p.232-238
• Main Authors: Polat, Irmak, Amutkan Mutlu, Damla, Suludere, Zekiye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accessory gland; accessory glands; Acrididae; Chromatin; Cytoplasm; electron microscope; Endoplasmic reticulum; Epithelial cells; insect; Insects; light microscope; male reproductive system; Males; Microscopes; Mitochondria; Muscles; Nuclei (cytology); Orthoptera; Oviposition; Pseudochorthippus parallelus; Reproductive system; Secretory vesicles; Species; Spermatheca; Tubules
• ISSN: 1059-910X; 1097-0029
• DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23406

The accessory glands of male reproductive system in insects play a significant role in the reproduction process by protecting sperm in spermatheca, preventing female to accept other males after mating and stimulating oviposition. The number, structure, and arrangement of the tubules of accessory glands can change from species to species. In this study, the accessory glands belonging the male reproductive system in Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera, Acrididae) were examined with stereomicroscope, light microscope, scanning (SEM), and transmission (TEM) electron microscopes at Gazi University, Faculty of Science in 2017–2019. P. parallelus parallelus is a widespread species that is located at the extending areas from Italy to the Northern Europe and also in Turkey. The accessory glands of P. parallelus parallelus’ male reproductive system are composed of about 10 tubules. The tubules can be classified into two groups according to the thickness of their muscle tissues. Both groups have single layered epithelial cells with mitochondria, well‐developed endoplasmic reticulum, spherical nucleus with electron dense chromatin, secretory vesicles and multivesicular bodies in their cytoplasm. In addition, apocrine type secretion is seen in epithelial cells. Apocrine secretion at the apical membrane of the epithelial cells of the accossory glands that belong to the male reproductive system in Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus. The accessory glands of the male reproductive system in P. parallelus parallelus were examined with the light microscope, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The histological and ultrastructural features of the accessory glands were presented and the similarities and the differences with those of other species were revealed.