title: Cell death in salivary glands of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae) females at semi-engorged feeding stage.
abstract: The ultrastructure of the salivary glands of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus females is described during feeding. In beginning of feeding, individuals show acini I with many mitochondria and wide basal labyrinth in peripheral cells; glycoprotein granules only in b and c3 cells (acini II); and epithelial interstitial cells with developed basal labyrinth between f cells (acini III). Semi-engorged females show cells in degeneration, with autophagic vacuoles, lysosomes, myelin figures, and irregular, condensed, and/or fragmented nuclei, in addition to apoptotic bodies. R. B. microplus points to apoptosis in these organs before the detachment from the host, in contrast to others tick species.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brazil. erikatnunes@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Erika Takagi
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Karim Christina Scopinho
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Furquim
authors.forename: Gervasio Henrique
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Bechara
authors.forename: Maria Izabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Camargo-Mathias
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D048494:Rhipicephalus / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*