›› 1998, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 269-274.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

VALVULAR STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF CONSTRICTIONS OF MESODERMAL GLANDS OF MALE ADULT REPRODUCTIVE TRACT IN BLACK CUTWORM, AGROTIS YPSILON

Chen Changkun Li Guoqing Wang Yinchang Hu Bing   

  • Online:1998-08-20 Published:1998-08-20

Abstract: Valvular structure and function of mesodermal glands of male reproductive tract in the black cutworm, Agrotis ypsilon, were studied with light and electron microscopies. The results were summarized as follows: (1) Distinct constrictions occur between and within the various parts of mesodermal glands of the male reproductive tract. There were seven constrictions located between male accessory gland-seminal vesicle, seminal vesicle-lst segment of spermatophoregland, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5 segments of spermatophore gland, and 5th segment of spermatophore gland-e tubule. (2) The histological structure of constriction consisted of four successive layers:valvular cells, basal lamella, muscle nad peritomeal membrane. (3) The valvular structure characteristics of constriction cell were as follows: apical region lengthened and expanded into mushroom-like convex projection which possessed a lot of long and thin microvilli blocking the tubule lumen, the nucleus surround-ed densely by rough endopalsmic reticula and some Golgi complexes, with large intercellular spaces. (4) The results of polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis of the secretions of the segments of spermatophore gland divided by constrictions showed that the electrophoresispatterns were quite different. The results of the PAS reaction also showed that theforms of those serections were different in cross section of lummen. Therefore, the valvular structure of constriction is considered to be an important part in separating secretion of mesodermal glands of male reproductive tract.

Key words: Agrotis ypsilon, male mesodermal glands, constriction, valvular structure