UROPOD AND LATERAL PLATE GLANDS OF THE TERRESTRIAL ISOPOD PORCELLIO SCABER LATR (ONISCIDAE, CRUSTACEA) - AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY

Lateral plate and uropod glands are composed of a binucleated gland ce ll, a ramified intermediate cell, and an elongated duct cell. The glan d cell is divided into several lobes and forms numerous short processe s in its periphery. The cytoplasm contains many secretory granules. Th e granules release their content into the intercellular collecting duc ts between the gland cell and the branched extensions of the intermedi ate cell. The collecting ducts merge into a funnel-shaped space surrou nded by the intermediate cell. The duct cell is lined by a cuticular i ntima and contains long striated bundles of fibrils. The duct cell con sists of two different regions. The proximal region is characterized b y microvilli on the luminal side and contains many organelles. In the distal region microvilli are lacking and organelles are scarce. Struct urally, the uropod and lateral plate glands differ in the number of co mponents within the granules. This is in accordance with the differenc es in the characteristics of the secretory products of the two gland t ypes. The morphology of the glands, particularly the peripheral positi on of the collecting system, is unique among exocrine glands of arthro pods. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.