title: Reproductive biology in Anophelinae mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae): Fine structure of the female accessory gland.
abstract: The morphology and ultrastructure of female accessory reproductive glands of Anopheles maculipennis s.s., Anopheles labranchiae and Anopheles stephensi were investigated by light and electron microscopy. The reproductive system in these species is characterized by two ovaries, two lateral oviducts, a single spermatheca and a single accessory gland. The gland is globular and has a thin duct which empties into the vagina, near the opening of the spermathecal duct. Significant growth of the accessory reproductive gland is observed immediately after blood meal, but not at subsequent digestion steps. At ultrastructural level, the gland consists of functional glandular units belonging to type 3 ectodermal glands. The secretory cells are elongated and goblet shaped, with most of their cytoplasm and large nucleus in the basal part, close to the basement lamella. Finely fibrous electron-transparent material occupies the secretory cavity that is in contact with the end of a short efferent duct (ductule) emerging from the gland duct. The present study is the first detailed description of female accessory gland ultrastructure in Anophelinae and provides insights into the gland's functional role in the reproductive biology of these insects.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento per l'Innovazione nei sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laghezza Masci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Luca
authors.affiliation: Centro Grandi Attrezzature, sezione di Microscopia Elettronica, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambellini
authors.affiliation: Centro Grandi Attrezzature, sezione di Microscopia Elettronica, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Taddei
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento per l'Innovazione nei sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Belardinelli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento per l'Innovazione nei sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento per l'Innovazione nei sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento per l'Innovazione nei sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy. Electronic address: fausto@unitus.it.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fausto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D012098:Reproduction
keywords: Accessory gland; Anophelinae; Gonotrophic cycle; Insect reproduction; Scanning and transmission electron microscopy