title: The morphology and ultrastructure of salivary glands of Zoraptera (Insecta).
abstract: The salivary glands of two species of Zoraptera, Zorotypus caudelli and Zorotypus hubbardi, were examined and documented mainly using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results obtained for males and females of the two species are compared and functional aspects related to ultrastructural features are discussed. The salivary glands are divided into two regions: the secretory cell region and the long efferent duct, the latter with its distal end opening in the salivarium below the hypopharyngeal base. The secretory region consists of a complex of secretory cells provided with microvillated cavities connected by short ectodermal ducts to large ones, which are connected with the long efferent duct. The secretory cell cytoplasm contains a large system of rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus producing numerous dense secretions. The cells of the efferent duct, characterized by reduced cytoplasm and the presence of long membrane infoldings associated with mitochondria, are possibly involved in fluid uptaking from the duct lumen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Via A. Moro 2, University of Siena, I-53100, Siena, Italy. Electronic address: romano.dallai@unisi.it.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dallai
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Via A. Moro 2, University of Siena, I-53100, Siena, Italy. Electronic address: david.mercati@unisi.it.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mercati
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, Kanayagawa 1, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan. Electronic address: beadsantenna@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mashimo
authors.affiliation: Sugadaira Montane Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Nagano, 386-2204, Japan. Electronic address: machida@sugadaira.tsukuba.ac.jp.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Machida
authors.affiliation: Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie, FSU Jena, Erbertstraße 1, 07743, Jena, Germany. Electronic address: b5bero@uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Beutel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007313:Insecta / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: Insect gland structure; Insect ultrastructure; Secretory organs