title: Regionalization of oviducts in Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae) and its potential significance for fertilization.
abstract: The structural analysis of oviducts in Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) in different stages of ingurgitation has indicated that they are constituted primarily of an internal cylinder and an external cylinder with different cell types being found between them. Copulated females in active ingurgitation process show typical variations along the internal cylinder, and three regions can be defined: anterior, ring-like and transitional. Based on such regionalization, hypotheses were raised about where and how fertilization takes place, a process yet to be clarified for the acari.
authors.affiliation: Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga, 6681, CEP 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Fernández
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Severino
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Winkelmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003307:Copulation; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D010057:Oviducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology