|
KMID : 0381919960260010017
|
|
Korean Journal of Microscopy
1996 Volume.26 No. 1 p.17 ~ p.31
|
|
|
Fine Structural Aspects of the Venom Production in the Black Widow Spider, Latrodectus mactans
|
|
Moon Myung-Jin
Tillinghast Edward K
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
The venomous apparatus of the black widow spider, Latrodectus mactans, is composed of chelicera and paired venom glands in the cephalothorax. Each glands is surrounded by a thin adventitia and striated muscular bundles resting on a basal membrane. Along the musculature neuromuscular synaptic contacts are formed by a motor axon and the muscle fibers. The secretory epithelium, which made up of simple and long columnar cells with extensive finger-like processes, creates a simple acinar gland. The secretory surfac is increased by a sort of fringes extended from the basal membrane into the gland lumen, and the luminal surface of the epithelium is marked by the presence of closely spaced microvilli. The venoms of the black widow spider are produced from two types of secretory granules within the epithelial cells. During the secretory phase, these granules are transformed into droplets and suffering a condensation. Finally the secretory products are released by the apocrine secretion. After the gland is emptied, the basal epithelial cells present a high proliferative process and regenerate the columnar epithlial cells.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
Fine structure, Venom production, Black widow spider
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|