title: Gonads and gametogenesis in astigmatic mites (Acariformes: Astigmata).
abstract: Astigmatans are a large group of mites living in nearly every environment and exhibiting very diverse reproductive strategies. In spite of an uniform anatomical organization of their reproductive systems, gametogenesis in each sex is highly variable, leading to gamete formation showing many peculiar features and emphasizing the distinct position of Astigmata. This review summarizes the contemporary knowledge on the structure of ovaries and testes in astigmatic mites, the peculiarities of oogenesis and spermatogenesis, as well as provides new data on several species not studied previously. New questions are discussed and approaches for future studies are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: w.witalinski@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Witaliński
mesh_terms: D000053:Acari / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009866:Oogenesis; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Gonadal somatic cells; Intercellular bridges; Oogenesis; Ovarian nutritive cell; Ovary; Spermatogenesis; Spermatozoa; Testicular central cell; Testis; Vitellogenesis