Summary
The sternal gland of Kalotermes flavicollis is an epidermal thickening of the fifth abdominal sternite. It secretes a trail pheromone dissolved in a lipid substance. Two main cells types constitute the gland: basal glandular cells and columnar cells-with a brush border beneath the cuticle. We can also recognize two regions in the gland. At the anterior part the glandular cells, full of lipid droplets, are more developed; the cuticle is composed of endocuticle and epicuticle. At the posterior part, the glandular cells contain glycogen; the cuticle is made of mesocuticle and epicuticle.
The glandular cells of the anterior part secrete lipid droplets associated with mitochondria. The secretion passes into the columnar cells and, by way of the smooth reticulum, seems to be discharged by the microvilli; it crosses the cuticle by means of pore-canals perforating the epicuticle. The posterior part is less developed, but the structure of cuticle suggests also a secretory activity at this level. The complexity of the secretion is emphasized.
Résumé
La glande sternale de Kalotermes flavicollis est un épaississement épidermique du cinquième sternite abdominal. Elle sécrète une phéromone de piste dissoute dans un lipide. Deux types cellulaires principaux se reconnaissent: des cellules glandulaires basales et des cellules intercalaires. On peut en outre distinguer deux régions. La partie antérieure où les cellules glandulaires, plus développées, sont emplies de gouttelettes lipidiques, la cuticule y est formée d'endoeuticule et d'épicuticule. A la partie postérieure, les cellules glandulaires contiennent du glycogène, la cuticule est formée de mésocuticule et d'épicuticule.
Les cellules glandulaires de la région antérieure élaborent des globules lipidiques associés aux mitochondries. La sécrétion gagne les cellules intercalaires et, par l'intermédiaire du reticulum endoplasmique, paraît se libérer depuis les microvillosités; elle traverse la cuticule par les canaux poraires qui aboutissent à de fines perforations de l'épicuticule. La partie postérieure est moins différenciée, mais la structure de la cuticule indique également une activité sécrétoire dans cette région. L'accent est mis sur la nature complexe de la sécrétion.
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Nous exprimons notre gratitude au Professeur Ch. Noirot qui a mis à notre disposition ses résultats personnels et qui a suivi avec bienveillance la réalisation de ce travail.
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Quennedey, A. Les glandes exocrines des termites. Z. Zellforsch. 121, 27–47 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330915
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330915