ISSN:
1615-6102
Keywords:
Endosymbiont
;
Mycetocyte
;
Mycetome
;
Oocyte
;
Transovarial transmission
;
Ultrastructure
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary All anoplurans live symbiotically with prokaryotic microorganisms hosted in specialized cells, termed mycetocytes. In nymphs and males mycetocytes are distributed between midgut epithelial cells. In females, besides the midgut, mycetocytes are found in the reproductive organs where they are located at the base of ovarioles in contact with lateral oviducts. The mycetocyte-associated symbionts are transmitted from one generation to the next transovarially. Here, the results of histological and ultrastructural studies on the distribution and transmission of symbiotic microorganisms within the ovaries of the anopluranHaematopinus suis are presented. Interestingly, during advanced oogenesis (i.e., choriogenesis) of this species all symbionts are localized extracellularly and form a tight mass located at the posterior pole of the oocyte just below the hydropyle. In insects studied so far, such localization of transovarially transmitted microorganisms has been reported only in the closely related speciesHaematopinus eurysternus.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01453449
