Histochemical Studies on the Male Accessory Glands of the Tenebrionid Beetle Blaps polychresta (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

The aim of the presnt study is to describe the male accessory glands of the tenebrionid beetle Blaps polychresta using histochemical methods and to detect the nature of their secretions. In the adult male tenebrionid beetle Blaps polychresta, there is one pair of bean – shaped and other pair of long tubular accessory reproductive glands. Each bean – shaped gland consists of a single layer of secretory columnar epithelium, surrounded by a muscular coat which is highly tracheated and innervated. Each tubular gland consists of one type of secretory columnar epithelium, surrounded by thin muscular coat which is innervated and highly tracheated. The nuclei of secretory cells in both glands are situated in the basal zone. Histochemical tests of the bean – shaped glands indicate that the secretion of these glands is mainly composed of neutral mucopolysaccharide, glycogen, proteins and lipids. Histochemical tests of the tubular glands indicate the presence of neutral mucopolysaccharide and scanty acidic mucopolysaccharide secretion inside the lumen of these glands, the positive reaction for glycogen and proteins in the cells and secretion inside the lumen of these glands indicate the glycoprotein nature of the secretion.