Effect of blood meal and mating on the genital tract ultrastructure in the female camel tick Hyalomma (Hyalomma) dromedarii (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae). 1989

S M el Shoura
Department of Cell and Structural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester University, Great Britain.

The genital tract ultrastructure in the female Hyalomma (Hyalomma) dromedarii is described during feeding and mating and up to oviposition. The vagina, consisting of vestibular (VV) and cervical (CV) regions, is formed of an epithelium lined internally with a folded cuticular layer and surrounded externally by muscle layers. These facilitate the passage of endospermatophores containing sperm into the receptaculum seminis (RS), and ova to the exterior. A pair of tubular accessory glands (AG) opening at the junction of VV and CV consist of an epithelial layer of undifferentiated cells. As feeding progresses, these cells synthesise their granular secretion which lubricates the egg surface during its passage through VV. The RS, opening anteriorly into the CV, consists of cuboidal cells lined with a thin cuticular layer. These cells become rich in glycogen and lipid vacuoles, possibly acting as a source of energy for various cell activities including granule synthesis and exocytosis. The granules discharge their contents into intercellular spaces distributed throughout the RS wall and communicate with the main lumen via narrow channels. The cell secretion may dissolve the endospermatophore wall to release sperm, while their lysosome-like structures may function in the breakdown of endospermatophoric material taken up by pinocytosis. The connecting tube (CT) opens into the CV anterodorsally and leads into the common oviduct (COV) posteriorly. It consists of an epithelium lined by a closely-adhering cuticular layer, giving the tube lumen the appearance of an undulate labyrinth with a complicated configuration. No secretory activity in the CT has been observed before, during, or after feeding. The paired, non-cuticular oviducts, extending from the ovary and fusing anteriorly to form COV, consist of an epithelium poor in cell organelles. At the final stages of feeding the cell cytoplasm contains large, phagosomal vacuoles penetrated by sperms, in addition to micropinocytotic vesicles which serve to break down the seminal fluid and other materials. The basal membrane is infolded giving characteristic features, which increase dramatically during oviposition, of epithelia involved in ion and water transport. The oviducal secretion may function as a tanning agent to harden the egg-shell and may also act as a lubricant for egg passage.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D001769 Blood The body fluid that circulates in the vascular system (BLOOD VESSELS). Whole blood includes PLASMA and BLOOD CELLS.
D002162 Camelus Two-toed, hoofed mammals with four legs, a big-lipped snout, and a humped back belonging to the family Camelidae. They are native to North Africa, and Western and Central Asia. Camels,Dromedary,Bactrian Camels,Bractrian Camels,Camelus bactrianus,Camelus dromedarius,Bactrian Camel,Bractrian Camel,Camel,Camel, Bactrian,Camel, Bractrian,Camels, Bactrian,Camels, Bractrian,Dromedaries
D003307 Copulation Sexual union of a male and a female in non-human species. Copulations
D005260 Female Females
D005502 Food Substances taken in by the body to provide nourishment. Foods
D005836 Genitalia, Female The female reproductive organs. The external organs include the VULVA; BARTHOLIN'S GLANDS; and CLITORIS. The internal organs include the VAGINA; UTERUS; OVARY; and FALLOPIAN TUBES. Accessory Sex Organs, Female,Sex Organs, Accessory, Female,Genital Organs, Female,Genitals, Female,Reproductive System, Female,Female Genital,Female Genital Organ,Female Genital Organs,Female Genitalia,Female Genitals,Female Reproductive System,Female Reproductive Systems,Genital Organ, Female,Genital, Female,Reproductive Systems, Female
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013987 Ticks Blood-sucking acarid parasites of the order Ixodida comprising two families: the softbacked ticks (ARGASIDAE) and hardbacked ticks (IXODIDAE). Ticks are larger than their relatives, the MITES. They penetrate the skin of their host by means of highly specialized, hooked mouth parts and feed on its blood. Ticks attack all groups of terrestrial vertebrates. In humans they are responsible for many TICK-BORNE DISEASES, including the transmission of ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER; TULAREMIA; BABESIOSIS; AFRICAN SWINE FEVER; and RELAPSING FEVER. (From Barnes, Invertebrate Zoology, 5th ed, pp543-44) Ixodida,Ixodidas,Tick

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