Affiliations 

  • 1 Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy. Electronic address: iacopo.petrocelli@gmail.com
  • 2 Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
  • 3 Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
Arthropod Struct Dev, 2014 Sep;43(5):457-68.
PMID: 24797151 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2014.04.007

Abstract

In the wasp venom apparatus, the convoluted gland is the tract of the thin secretory unit, i.e. filament, contained in the muscular reservoir. Previous transmission electron microscope investigation on Stenogastrinae disclosed that the free filaments consist of distal and proximal tracts, from/to the venom reservoir, characterized by class 3 and 2 gland patterns, respectively. This study aims to extend the ultrastructural analysis to the convoluted tract, in order to provide a thorough, subcellular representation of the venom gland in these Asian wasps. Our findings showed that the convoluted gland is a continuation of the proximal tract, with secretory cells provided with a peculiar apical invagination, the extracellular cavity, collecting their products. This compartment holds a simple end-apparatus lined by large and ramified microvilli that contribute to the processing of the secretory product. A comparison between previous and present findings reveals a noticeable regionalization of the stenogastrine venom filaments and suggests that the secretory product acquires its ultimate composition in the convoluted tract.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.