Fine structure of the secretory and sensory organs on the cephalon and the first pereionite of Trichoniscus alexandrae Caruso (Crustacea, Isopoda).
Trichoniscus alexandrae Caruso is a blind troglobiont isopod; males possess secretory and sensory organs on the cephalon and 1st pereionite consisting of cuticular pits hosting a tuft of setae and gland openings. Such organs are absent in females. Three types of cuticular structures have been observed: (a) lamellar setae, which likely play a role in protecting the gland openings and favouring the evaporation of secretions; (b) contact chemoreceptors, each provided with six bipolar sensory cells, a scolopale cell and enveloping cells; (c) a secretory cell complex, consisting of a long cylindrical slender duct-forming cell, with the function of transporting to the cuticular surface a secretion produced by two deeper secretory cells. The duct-forming cell is characterized by the presence of numerous microtubules in its cytoplasm, and is provided with a flattened duct. It is suggested that the secretion produced by the secretory cells could serve for sex-recognition.
Department of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, I-95100 Catania, Italy.
B M
BM
Lombardo
P P
PP
Fanciulli
R
R
Grasso
F
F
Cicconardi
D
D
Caruso
R
R
Dallai
D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D033321:Isopoda / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008954:Models, Biological; D012679:Sense Organs / Q000648:ultrastructure*