Accessory Glands Research Articles

A new species of Triplocania Roesler of the Magnifica species group (Psocodea, Psocoptera, Ptiloneuridae) from Brazil.

A new species of Triplocania Roesler included in the magnifica species-group is here described, illustrated and named as: Triplocania oiapoque n. sp. based on male and female specimens. In addition to the fourth new species of the magnifica species-group, descriptions of variations in forewing venation were also made for it, as well as an additional description of the ejaculatory duct, accessory glands, and spermatic sacs, recorded for the first time in Triplocania species. A new geographic record for Triplocania magnifica Roesler and an updated species key for the magnifica species-group are also presented.

Collaborative Expression: Transcriptomics of Conus virgo Suggests Contribution of Multiple Secretory Glands to Venom Production

Venomous marine gastropods of the family Conidae are among the most diversified predators in marine realm—in large due to their complex venoms. Besides being a valuable source of bioactive neuropeptides conotoxins, cone-snails venoms are an excellent model for molecular evolution studies, addressing origin of key innovations. However, these studies are handicapped by scarce current knowledge on the tissues involved in venom production, as it is generally assumed the sole prerogative of the venom gland (VG). The role of other secretory glands that are present in all Conus species (salivary gland, SG) or only in some species (accessory salivary gland, ASG) remains poorly understood. Here, for the first time, we carry out a detailed analysis of the VG, SG, and ASG transcriptomes in the vermivorous Conus virgo. We detect multiple transcripts clusters in both the SG and ASG, whose annotations imply venom-related functions. Despite the subsets of transcripts highly-expressed in the VG, SG, and ASG being very distinct, SG expresses an L-, and ASG—Cerm08-, and MEFRR- superfamily conotoxins, all previously considered specific for VG. We corroborate our results with the analysis of published SG and VG transcriptomes from unrelated fish-hunting C. geographus, and C. striatus, possibly fish-hunting C. rolani, and worm-hunting Conus quercinus. In spite of low expression levels of conotoxins, some other specific clusters of putative venom-related peptides are present and may be highly expressed in the SG of these species. Further functional studies are necessary to determine the role that these peptides play in envenomation. In the meantime, our results show importance of routine multi-tissue sampling both for accurate interpretation of tissue-specific venom composition in cone-snails, and for better understanding origin and evolution of venom peptides genes.

Visualisation of Bluetongue Virus in the Salivary Apparatus of Culicoides Biting Midges Highlights the Accessory Glands as a Primary Arboviral Infection Site

BackgroundArthropods transmit a wide range of pathogens of importance for the global health of humans, animals, and plants. One group of these arthropod vectors, Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), is the biological vector of several human and animal pathogens, including economically important livestock viruses like bluetongue virus (BTV). Like other arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), Culicoides-borne viruses must reach and replicate in the salivary apparatus, from where they can be transmitted to susceptible hosts through the saliva during subsequent blood feeding. Despite the importance of the salivary gland apparatus for pathogen transmission to susceptible animals from the bite of infected Culicoides, these structures have received relatively little attention, perhaps due to the small size and fragility of these vectors.ResultsIn this study, we developed techniques to visualize the infection of the salivary glands and other soft tissues with BTV, in some of the smallest known arbovirus vectors, Culicoides biting midges, using three-dimensional immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. We showed BTV infection of specific structures of the salivary gland apparatus of female Culicoides vectors following oral virus uptake, related visualisation of viral infection in the salivary apparatus to high viral RNA copies in the body, and demonstrated for the first time, that the accessory glands are a primary site for BTV replication within the salivary apparatus.ConclusionsOur work has revealed a novel site of virus-vector interactions, and a novel role of the accessory glands of Culicoides in arbovirus amplification and transmission. Our approach would also be applicable to a wide range of arbovirus vector groups including sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae), as well as provide a powerful tool to investigate arbovirus infection and dissemination, particularly where there are practical challenges in the visualization of small size and delicate tissues of arthropods.

PSI-12 Characterization of Boar Reproductive Tract Microbiome Prior to Puberty Attainment

Abstract A large portion of microbiome research has focused on characterization of the gastrointestinal tract and female reproductive tract. However, minimal research has focused on establishing the bacterial community in other organs, specifically male reproductive tissues and gonads. Characterization of these microbiomes in early life could be an indicator of future semen microbiome composition and subsequent fertility status. The aim of this study was to characterize the bacterial communities of various male reproductive tissues including the testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate, bulbourethral glands, and preputial diverticulum in pre-pubertal boars. Crossbred boars (n = 4), fed a conventional diet (20% crude protein), were euthanized at approximately 2 months of age, and their intact reproductive tracts were removed. For each tissue (testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate, bulbourethral glands, and preputial diverticulum), a small incision was made before a sterile swab was rotated several times and placed into a sterile microcentrifuge tube for further analysis. A sterile swab was exposed to the environment and placed into a sterile microcentrifuge tube to act as a negative control. Samples were stored at -80°C before microbiome sequencing targeting the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene. Statistical analysis was conducted using the PROC GLM procedure in SAS 9.4. A greater relative abundance of the phylum Firmicutes was observed in the preputial diverticulum than the bulbourethral glands, seminal vesicles, and prostate (75.1 ± 3.6% vs. 62.3 ± 3.1%, 59.3 ± 3.1%, 58.4 ± 3.1%, respectively; P < 0.05). Within Firmicutes, the relative abundance of the genus Blautia was reduced in the preputial diverticulum compared with testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles, bulbourethral glands, and prostate (0.6 ± 1.5% vs. 8.1 ± 1.3%, 8.1 ± 1.3%, 8.1 ± 1.3%, 7.6 ± 1.3%, 7.4 ± 1.3%, respectively; P < 0.01). In contrast, the genus Peptoniphilus, under the phylum Firmicutes, was more abundant in the preputial diverticulum than the testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles, bulbourethral glands, and prostate (8.8 ± 1.5% vs. 0.3 ± 1.3%, 0.1 ± 1.3%, 0.2 ± 1.3%, 0.1 ± 1.3%, 0.2 ± 1.3%, respectively; P < 0.01). The relative abundance of the phylum Bacteroidetes within the testes had a decreased relative abundance in comparison to the bulbourethral glands (14.2% vs. 23.6 ± 2.5%; P = 0.01), prostate (14.2% vs. 27.0 ± 2.5%; P = 0.01), and seminal vesicles (14.2% vs. 30.1 ± 2.5%; P = 0.01). The seminal vesicles (6.5% vs. 2.9 ± 0.8%; P < 0.01) and prostate (5.4% vs. 2.9 ± 0.8%; P < 0.05) had a greater relative abundance of the genus Bacteroides, within the phylum Bacteroidetes, than the testes. A greater relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria was observed in the preputial diverticulum than the bulbourethral gland, prostate, seminal vesicles, testes, and epididymis (13.5 ± 1.7% vs. 6.3 ± 1.5%, 6.5 ± 1.5%, 5.8 ± 1.5%, 5.6 ± 1.5%, 5.5 ± 1.5%, respectively; P < 0.01). Based on these results, it appears the preputial diverticulum and the testes have distinct bacterial communities that differ from the male accessory sex glands including the prostate, bulbourethral glands, and seminal vesicles. Further research is needed to characterize the boar reproductive tract microbiome and determine its relationship with fertility.

Evolution of secondary cell number and position in the Drosophila accessory gland.

In animals with internal fertilization, males transfer gametes and seminal fluid during copulation, both of which are required for successful reproduction. In Drosophila and other insects, seminal fluid is produced in the paired accessory gland (AG), the ejaculatory duct, and the ejaculatory bulb. The D. melanogaster AG has emerged as an important model system for this component of male reproductive biology. Seminal fluid proteins produced in the Drosophila AG are required for proper storage and use of sperm by the females, and are also critical for establishing and maintaining a suite of short- and long-term postcopulatory female physiological responses that promote reproductive success. The Drosophila AG is composed of two main cell types. The majority of AG cells, which are referred to as main cells, are responsible for production of many seminal fluid proteins. A minority of cells, about 4%, are referred to as secondary cells. These cells, which are restricted to the distal tip of the D. melanogaster AG, may play an especially important role in the maintenance of the long-term female post-mating response. Many studies of Drosophila AG evolution have suggested that the proteins produced in the gland evolve quickly, as does the transcriptome. Here, we investigate the evolution of secondary cell number and position in the AG in a collection of eight species spanning the entire history of the Drosophila genus. We document a heretofore underappreciated rapid evolutionary rate for both number and position of these specialized AG cells, raising several questions about the developmental, functional, and evolutionary significance of this variation.

Regional abundances of binder of sperm (BSP) proteins are negatively associated with the quality of frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa.

The localization and abundance of the sperm BSP proteins correlate with in vitro fertility in domestic bulls used in artificial insemination service. Binder of sperm (BSP) proteins, secreted mainly by the accessory sex glands, are the major protein family present in bovine seminal plasma and on the sperm surface after ejaculation. In vivo, BSP proteins facilitate sperm capacitation and sperm reservoir formation; however, their impact on sperm function within the in vitro systems is less clear. Therefore, this biomarker-based study aimed to characterize the localization and abundance of BSP proteins from in vitro processed frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa. Using image-based flow cytometry and Western blotting, BSP protein localization, abundance, membrane and acrosomal integrity were investigated in the supernatant (nonmotile) and pellet (motile) fractions of gradient-separated bull spermatozoa. Spermatozoa from the supernatant fraction had high enrichment of all BSP proteins investigated (BSP1, BSP3, BSP5; P < 0.05) when compared to the pellet fraction. In the pellet fraction, BSP1 and BSP3 bound predominately to the acrosomal region, whereas BSP5 had a high affinity for the midpiece. However, in the supernatant fraction, BSP proteins predominately coated the entire sperm surface resulting in the loss of regional specificity. High BSP protein abundance in the spermatozoa also correlated with acrosome and membrane damage. Whereas a high abundance of BSP5 correlated with low embryo cleavage rates, high abundance of BSP1 on the sperm head coincided with a high blastocyst rate. Therefore, changes in the quantity and localization of specific BSP proteins could act as potential biomarkers of sperm quality and fertility.

Paralog transcriptional differentiation in the D. melanogaster-specific gene family Sdic across populations and spermatogenesis stages

How recently originated gene copies become stable genomic components remains uncertain as high sequence similarity of young duplicates precludes their functional characterization. The tandem multigene family Sdic is specific to Drosophila melanogaster and has been annotated across multiple reference-quality genome assemblies. Here we show the existence of a positive correlation between Sdic copy number and total expression, plus vast intrastrain differences in mRNA abundance among paralogs, using RNA-sequencing from testis of four strains with variable paralog composition. Single cell and nucleus RNA-sequencing data expose paralog expression differentiation in meiotic cell types within testis from third instar larva and adults. Additional RNA-sequencing across synthetic strains only differing in their Y chromosomes reveal a tissue-dependent trans-regulatory effect on Sdic: upregulation in testis and downregulation in male accessory gland. By leveraging paralog-specific expression information from tissue- and cell-specific data, our results elucidate the intraspecific functional diversification of a recently expanded tandem gene family.

Chemical Resemblance of Egg Surface Compounds and Dufour's Gland in Two Neotropical Polistinae Wasps Polistes versicolor (Olivier) and Mischocyttarus metathoracicus (de Saussure, 1854).

Chemical communication plays a major role in regulating social dynamics in social insect colonies. The most studied class of chemical compounds are the cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), compounds with high molecular weight that cover the insect body. CHCs are used in nestmate recognition and to signal reproductive status. Brood, in the form of larvae and eggs, is known to participate in chemical communication and social dynamics by performing hunger behaviour and inducing interaction with adults and conferring nest and maternity identity. CHCs of adults and egg surface compounds are similar in composition in social insect species. The main source of egg compounds is proposed to be Dufour's gland, an accessory reproductive gland found in several Hymenoptera females. There is still a lack of information about the level of similarity among CHCs, compounds of egg surface and Dufour's gland for several wasp species, which could provide correlational evidence about the origins of egg-marking compounds. Thus, we investigated whether egg surface compounds were more similar to CHCs or Dufour's gland secretions in two Neotropical primitively eusocial wasp species, Polistes versicolor (Olivier) and Mischocyttarus metathoracicus (de Saussure, 1854). As expected, there was a higher chemical similarity between eggs and Dufour's gland secretions in both studied species, supporting the hypothesis that this gland is the source of chemical compounds found over the eggs in these two primitively eusocial species.

Morphological and ultrastructural studies of the internal reproductive systems of two deltocephaline leafhoppers, Nephotettixcincticeps and Deltocephalusvulgaris (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae).

Insects have highly variable reproductive systems, reflecting a diversity of reproductive strategies and adaptations. Such variation has been widely used to classify and estimate phylogenetic relationships. Here, the morphology and ultrastructure of the internal reproductive systems of two leafhopper species are described and illustrated, using both light and transmission electron microscopy, and representing two tribes of Deltocephalinae: in Chiasmini, Nephotettixcincticeps (Uhler, 1896), and in Deltocephalini, Deltocephalusvulgaris (Dash & Viraktamath, 1998). Tables comparing the morphology of male and female internal reproductive structures of these studied species are provided and indicate that the main differences are in the relative shapes, sizes, and colors of these structures. The overall structure and organization, including details of the ultrastructure, of these two leafhopper species' male and female internal reproductive systems are very similar to those of previously studied leafhoppers. The main differences observed among species include the number of testicular follicles, the relative position of seminal vesicles and the degree of development of the accessory glands in the male, the number of ovaries, and the shape and color of the vagina and spermatheca in the female.

Morphology and ultrastructure of the colleterial glands in Myzinum flower wasps (Tiphiidae, Hymenoptera)

The strategies used by females to ensure the survival of their offspring are one of the key elements in insect reproductive biology. Ectoparasitoid hymenopterans, such as tiphiid wasps, use their ovipositor to deliver a single egg on the host body, where the larva develops. Here we describe the colleterial glands in females of two species of Myzinum and discuss the homology with other glands among Hymenoptera. The glands appear as two large opaque round sac-like structures that are connected to the oviduct. Histological sections revealed a compound gland, with a single layer of class-1 epithelial cells surrounded by a layer of class-3 gland cells, which is uncommon in Hymenoptera. Ultrastructure points to active protein synthesis, consistent with the role of colleterial glands. Despite the consensus that colleterial glands in Hymenoptera evolved with two distinct forms, the venom gland and Dufour’s gland, the three glands were present in both Myzinum species. The few studies regarding the structure, function, and homology among the female accessory glands in Hymenoptera do not allow to make conclusive statements about the evolution of these glands. Therefore, the finding in Myzinum is probably the reflection of a lack of information, rather than an exception within Aculeata.

A Rab6 to Rab11 transition is required for dense-core granule and exosome biogenesis in Drosophila secondary cells.

Secretory cells in glands and the nervous system frequently package and store proteins destined for regulated secretion in dense-core granules (DCGs), which disperse when released from the cell surface. Despite the relevance of this dynamic process to diseases such as diabetes and human neurodegenerative disorders, our mechanistic understanding is relatively limited, because of the lack of good cell models to follow the nanoscale events involved. Here, we employ the prostate-like secondary cells (SCs) of the Drosophila male accessory gland to dissect the cell biology and genetics of DCG biogenesis. These cells contain unusually enlarged DCGs, which are assembled in compartments that also form secreted nanovesicles called exosomes. We demonstrate that known conserved regulators of DCG biogenesis, including the small G-protein Arf1 and the coatomer complex AP-1, play key roles in making SC DCGs. Using real-time imaging, we find that the aggregation events driving DCG biogenesis are accompanied by a change in the membrane-associated small Rab GTPases which are major regulators of membrane and protein trafficking in the secretory and endosomal systems. Indeed, a transition from trans-Golgi Rab6 to recycling endosomal protein Rab11, which requires conserved DCG regulators like AP-1, is essential for DCG and exosome biogenesis. Our data allow us to develop a model for DCG biogenesis that brings together several previously disparate observations concerning this process and highlights the importance of communication between the secretory and endosomal systems in controlling regulated secretion.

Histomorphology of the vesicular and prostate glands of newborn piglets

The economic efficiency of animal husbandry depends on the productivity of the herd, which is usually assessed by analyzing the reproductive performance of females. However, similar indicators of males should be equally taken into account. The accessory sex glands of males are involved in the production of seminal plasma, thereby playing an important role in the reproductive process. The aim of the study is to give a histomorphological characteristic of the accessory sex glands and to determine their functional state in newborn piglets. The object of the study was the accessory sex glands of newborn piglets at the age of 1 day. The vesicular and prostate glands were selected for histological examination. The material was fixed in a 10% solution of neutral formalin for 24 hours, after which it was poured into paraffin according to the generally accepted method. Then sections with a thickness of 3- 5 microns were made, which were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Some of the sections were painted with Masson Trichrome, alcian blue. It was found that in newborn piglets, the vesicular gland is located on the dorsal surface of the bladder, at the beginning of the pelvic part of the urethra, the prostate gland is located caudally from the vesicular gland, dorsally from the genitourinary canal. The study established the main histomorphological features of the vesicular and prostate glands in newborn piglets. The parenchyma of the glands is in the stage of functional immaturity, most of the organ is occupied by the connective tissue stroma, among the elements of which there is a large number of fibroblastic cells. At the same time, secretory activity of some end sections of the vesicular gland is noted. The data obtained are the starting point for further studies of the functional activity of the cells of the accessory sex glands in boars.

The Main Patterns of Transformation in Organs of Reproductive System During the Evolution of Vertebrates

The article presents an analysis of the main directions of transformations of the organs of the reproductive system during the evolution of vertebrates at various levels of the hierarchical organization of vertebrates - cellular, tissue, organ, organism, population. During the evolution of vertebrates, gonadal oligomerization occurred, a decrease in the number of hermaphrodite species, a decrease in the relative mass of gonads in the body, and a transition from isogamy to heterogamy (oogamy) was observed. In vertebrates, 4 types of structural and functional organization of male gonads have been formed: follicular type, follicular-cystic type, tubular-cystic type, tubular type. In representatives of different classes of vertebrates, the transformation of the ovaries proceeded in different directions. Large, grape-shaped ovaries have evolved in fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and cloacal mammals. These ovaries, just before the breeding season, can occupy almost the entire abdominal cavity. The ovaries of placental mammals are small in size, their shape is most often oval, the surface is smooth. One of the directions of the evolutionary transformation of the gonads was the compartmentalization of the structures of the male and female gonads, while there was a structural and topographic division into the actual gonads and the genital tract, which were formed on the basis of the structures of the primary kidney. Higher vertebrates have well-developed accessory sex glands. In the gonads, there was a clear topographical distinction between endocrine and germinal structures. Against the background of an increase in the number of species with internal fertilization, against the background of the formation of a complexly organized vagina and uterus in female mammals, the formation and complication of the copulatory organs of males occurred.

UP38 - Let’s talk about sex (steroids): Steroid deprivation promotes the emergence of a new resistant population in prostate-like Drosophila accessory gland

UP38 - Let’s talk about sex (steroids): Steroid deprivation promotes the emergence of a new resistant population in prostate-like Drosophila accessory gland

Semen collection and ejaculation trigger changes in the blood flow of the reproductive system in rams.

The aim of this study was to determine if ejaculation modifies the testicular and accessory sex glands' blood flow after ejaculation, and if those changes differ according to the process that leads to ejaculation. Twelve adult Corriedale rams were used and assigned at random to the four procedures that lead to ejaculation: (G1) electroejaculation; (G2) artificial vagina; (G3) transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands; (G4) natural mating. Hemodynamic characteristics evaluation of the male reproductive system was conducted immediately before and at 30 and 90 min after ejaculation. The internal iliac artery peak systolic velocity (PSV)decreased (P=0.01) and supratesticular artery PSVincreased (P=0.042) 90 min after ejaculation in all groups. In conclusion, ejaculation modifies the reproductive system's blood flow, with slight variations depending on the studied ejaculation methods. Additionally, ejaculation altered the internal iliac and supratesticular arteries PSV, and the supratesticular artery end-diastolic velocity (EDV) in rams. The supratesticular artery PSVwas the only studied variable that differed according to the procedure that triggered the ejaculation.

Oral solitary fibrous tumors: A collaborative clinicopathologic study of 19 cases.

To report the clinicopathologic features of 19 oral solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs). Clinical data were collected from the records of seven pathology services. All cases were re-evaluated by HE staining and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The series comprised 11 females (57.9%) and 8 males (42.1%), with a mean age of 47.3 ± 14.7 years (range: 22-71 years) and a 1.3:1 female-to-male ratio. Most tumors affected the buccal mucosa (n = 7; 36.8%) and presented clinically as an asymptomatic solitary submucosal well-circumscribed nodule with coloration similar to the oral mucosa. Morphologically, most SFTs (n = 10; 52.6%) exhibited a classic hybrid pattern characterized by a well-circumscribed proliferation of densely cellular areas alternating with hypocellular areas in a variably collagenous vascular stroma. Remnants of accessory salivary glands were observed in two cases (n = 2; 10.5%). All tumors were positive for STAT6 and CD34 (n = 19; 100%). Outcome information was available from 6 patients (31.6%), with clinical follow-up ranging from 6 to 24 months (mean ± SD, 9.5 ± 6.8 months), and none developed local recurrence. Oral SFTs are rare and often clinically misdiagnosed. Pathologists should consider SFT in the differential diagnosis of oral spindle cell tumors. Accurate diagnosis requires careful morphological evaluation supported by immunohistochemical analysis.

Male-derived transcripts isolated from the mated female reproductive tract in Drosophila melanogaster.

In species with internal fertilization, sperm, and seminal fluid are transferred from male to female during mating. While both sperm and seminal fluid contain various types of molecules, including RNA, the role of most of these molecules in the coordination of fertilization or in other possible functions is poorly understood. In Drosophila, exosomes from the accessory gland, which produces seminal fluid, are transferred to females, but their potential cargoes have not been described. Moreover, while the RNA composition of sperm has been described in several mammalian species, little work on this problem has occurred in Drosophila. Here we use single nucleotide polymorphism differences between males and females from a set of highly inbred lines of D. melanogaster, and transcriptome data from the female reproductive tract, sperm, testis, and accessory gland, to investigate the potential origin, male vs female, RNA molecules isolated from 3 female reproductive tract organs, the seminal receptacle and spermatheca, which store sperm, and the parovaria, which does not. We find that mated females carry male-derived transcripts from many genes, including those that are markers of the accessory gland and known seminal fluid proteins. Our observations also support the idea that intact sperm transcripts can be isolated from the female sperm storage organs.

Thermal Stress and Adult Fitness in a Drosophila suzukii Neotropical Propagule.

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura 1931) is a cosmopolitan horticultural pest originally from temperate East Asia; yet, its recent introduction in southeast and central Brazil raises the possibility it might expand into warmer climatic zones. In theoretical terms, the adaptive potential of invasive species can be impaired by the lack of genetic variation, but, on the other hand, phenotypic plasticity might play an important role in the adaptation to the new environment. In this context, we investigated the effects of temperature variation (18°C, 22°C, and 28°C) on fitness traits and size of male reproductive organs (accessory glands and testis) in a natural D. suzukii population recently introduced in the neotropical region. Development time decreased significantly with increasing temperature, but egg-to-adult survival was not affected, attaining rates around 50% for the three temperatures. Development at 28°C affected differentially adult male and female biological performance: males displayed higher mortality and severe and permanent reduction in offspring production, whereas females showed the same mortality as controls and a temporary decrease in offspring production, followed of a clear recovery. Finally, reproductive organs size in immature and mature males was affected by developmental temperature variation in the following ways. Testis length decreased with body size (i.e., at higher temperatures) and increased with maturation time after adult hatching, whereas for accessory glands there was no significant difference between different temperatures, resulting in proportionally larger glands for smaller body sizes. These results show differences in developmental dynamics of reproductive tract structures due to temperature variation.

Morphology, Histology, and Cytology of the Testis and Accessory Glands of Bolua turkiyae (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae)

There are many morphological and histological studies in the world to investigate the structure of the external and internal organs of insects. These studies not only serve to illuminate the biology of insect species, but also to reveal taxonomic relationships. For this purpose, the detailed structure of the testis and accessory glands that are the main organs of the male reproductive system of Bolua turkiyae Ünal, 1999 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) was searched with a light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope techniques in 2019-2020 in Gazi University, Prof. Dr. Zekiye Suludere Electron Microscope Center in this study. B. turkiyae is an endemic species distributed around Bolu province in Turkey. The reproductive system of male B. turkiyae is comprised of testis, vas deferens, and accessory glands. When the cross-sections of the oval and yellow testis were examined, it was observed that they contain many follicles. There are cysts in these follicles that have the developmental stages of the sperm. From the distal ends of the follicles to the proximal ends, the germarium, growth zone, maturation zone, and transformation zone are located respectively. In these stages, spermatogonium, spermatocyte, spermatids, and finally spermatozoa are formed. Accessory glands are hollow tubular structures of two different sizes and diameters. Single-layered cubic or pyramidal cells surround the lumen in both groups of accessory glands. It is hoped that these new data will contribute to our understanding of the structure of the male reproductive system of B. turkiyae.

Effect of Juvenile Hormone agonist on the Accessory Sex Glands of Male &lt;i&gt;Spodoptera mauritia&lt;/i&gt; Boisd

Low concentration of pyriproxyfen, the juvenile hormone agonist dissolved in acetone was topically applied on the abdomen of the day 0 pupae (tanned) of male Spodoptera mauritia (Boisd) which is a sporadic pest of paddy to study its effects on the accessory sex glands (ASGs). The ultrastructure of the ASGs dissected out on day 6 appeared non- functional with degenerated epithelium showing large empty spaces, dense granules, condensed chromatin clumps, reduced number of RER and mitochondria in contrast to that of the control.