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Studies on the Salivary Glands of an Aquatic Bug, Lethocerus Indicus (Belostomatidae): Morphological, Histological and Preliminary Electron Microscopic Investigations

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Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the morphology, histology and ultrastructure of the salivary apparatus of Lethocerus indicus. The apparatus was found to consist of a principal and accessory salivary gland. The former is bilobed, having a small superior lobe and a larger inferior lobe, made up of many lobules/acini. Each lobule is made up of a simple glandular layer of syncytial epithelium encompassing the lumen, which is filled with secretory granules that are elaborated from the epithelium predominantly by the apocrine mode of secretion. The accessory salivary gland is vesicular cum tubular. The vesicular part is made up of a thin layer of flat, polygonal cells, having no signs of secretory activity, while the tubular part consists of a single layer of columnar epithelial cells that show signs of secretory activity. Both the principal and accessory glands discharge their secretions through a common salivary duct which opens at the base of the hypopharynx. The ultrastructure of the lobules of the principal salivary gland reveals a thick amorphous, basement membrane (800–1000Å) which supports the glandular epithelium. The basal and apical plasma membranes of the epithelium show basal infoldings and microvilli respectively. The nucleus is highly branched and remains surrounded by a double layered nuclear envelope. The ergastoplasmic membranes show abundance of ribosomes. Many mitochondria are also visible in the cytoplasm. It is concluded that the salivary gland of L. indicus is an organ of high synthetic activity.

Résumé

Des investigations sur la structure, l’histologie et la morphologie de l’appareil salivaire de L. indicus révèlent que celui-ci consiste en une glande salivaire principale et une glande salivaire accessoire. La première est bilobée, ayant un petit lobe supérieur et un plus grand lobe inférieur, composé de plusiers lobules/acini. Chaque lobule est composée d’une simple couche glandulaire d’épithélium syncytial enveloppant le lumen et remplie de granules sécrétrices qui sont élaborées en majeure partie par l’épithélium d’après un mode de sécrétion apocrine. La glande salivaire accessoire est du type vésiculaire tout comme tubulaire. La partie vésiculaire est composée d’une mince couche de cellules plates et polygonales ne montrant aucun signe d’activité sécrétrice tandis que la partie tubulaire consiste en une simple couche de cellules épithéliales en forme de colonne et manifestant des signes d’activité sécrétrice. Toutes les 2 glandes, la principale et l’accessoire déchargent leurs sécrétions dans un conduit salivaire commun qui débouche à la base de l’hypopharynx. L’ultrastructure des lobules de la glande salivaire principale revèle une épaisse membrane basale amorphe (800–1000 Å) qui soutient l’épithelium glandulaire. Les membranes de plasma basal et apical de l’épithelium montrent des replis internes basal et des microvilli respectivement. Le noyau est fortement branché et est entouré d’une enveloppe nucléaire à double couche. Les membranes ergastoplasmiques montrent une multitude de ribosomes. Plusieurs mitochondries sont aussi visibles dans le cytoplasme. Toutes ces particularités suggèrent que la glande salivaire de L. indicus est un organe à forte activité synthétique.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Dinesh Kumar, K. J. Venugopal & A. K. Singh

  2. Silkworm Seed Technology Laboratory, Kodathi, Carmelarm Post, Bangalore, 580 035, India

    P. R. Yadav

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  1. Dinesh Kumar
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  2. P. R. Yadav
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  3. K. J. Venugopal
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  4. A. K. Singh
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Kumar, D., Yadav, P.R., Venugopal, K.J. et al. Studies on the Salivary Glands of an Aquatic Bug, Lethocerus Indicus (Belostomatidae): Morphological, Histological and Preliminary Electron Microscopic Investigations. Int J Trop Insect Sci 16, 51–61 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400018324

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