Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ultrastructure of the genital papillae in the fresh-water mite Limnochares aquatica (L., 1758) (Acariformes, Limnocharidae)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Zoomorphology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The genital papillae of the fresh-water mite, Limnochares aquatica (L., 1758) were studied using TEM and SEM methods. The papillae are multiple organs spreading in large number over the ventral body surface. Each papilla is composed of the basal internal portion immersed into the body cavity and the external bowl-shaped portion placed among cuticular protuberances. A semi-spherical cap bearing minute pores covers the papillae bowl. An electron-lucent chamber is present between the cell apexes and the cuticle of the papillae cap. The latter is formed of the endo- and the exocuticle pierced by pores. The papillae are built of columnar cells with nuclear zone occupying the basal portion and the apical zone extending within the bowl and forming plications of the apical plasma membrane. Numerous electron-clear vesicles detach from both the basal and the lateral plasma membrane of papillae cells. The mitochondrial pool is quite moderate. The cells also contain numerous axial microtubules, glycogen particles, single residual bodies as well as minute apical vesicles supposedly releasing secretion into the lucent chamber. This secretion is accumulated underneath the cuticle of the cap and moving out through the pores to the outside. Following TEM organization, the papillae function in vesicular transportation of exceeding water and solutions across the organ from the organism to the external medium. The reverse active path of ions through the apical plasma membrane is also possible. In general, the papillae organization corresponds to chloride cells of aquatic insects taking part in ion–water balance but seems to be more primitive than analogous organs of other mites studied.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alberti G (1977) Zur Feinstruktur und Funktion der Genitalnäpfe von Hydrodroma despiciens (Hydrachnellae, Acari). Zoomorphol 87:155–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alberti G (1979) Fine structure and probable function of genital papillae and Claparede organs of Actinotrichida. In: Rodriguez JG (ed) Recent advances in acarology, vol 2. Academic Press, New York, pp 501–507

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Alberti G, Bader C (1990) Fine structure of external “genital” papillae in the freshwater mite Hydrovolzia placophora (Hydrovolziidae, Actinedida, Actinotrichida, Acari). Exp Appl Acarol 8:115–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alberti G, Coons LB (1999) Acari-Mites. In: Harrison FW, Foelix RF (eds) Microscopic anatomy of invertebrates, vol 8C. Wiley-Liss, New York, pp 515–1265

    Google Scholar 

  • André HM (1991) The Tydeoidea: a striking exception to the Oudemans-Grandjean rule. In: Dusbábek F, Bukva V (eds) Modern acarology. Academia, Prague, pp 293–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker AS (1985) A note on Claparède organs in larvae of the Superfamily Eupodoidea (Acari: Acariformes). J Nat Hist 19:739–744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barr D (1982) Comparative morphology of the genital acetabula of aquatic mites (Acari, Prostigmata): Hydrachnoidea, Eylaioidea, Hydryphantoidea and Lebertoidea. J Nat Hist 16:147–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bartsch I, Davids K, Deichsel R, Di Sabatino A et al (2007) Süßwasserfauna von Mitteleuropa. In: Gerecke R (ed) Chelicerata: Araneae/Acari I. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Berridge MJ (1970) Osmoregulation in terrestrial arthropods. In: Florkin M, Scheer BT (eds) Chemical zoology, vol 5. Academic Press, New York, pp 287–319

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Berridge MJ, Gupta BL (1967) Fine structural changes in relation to ion and water transport in the rectal papillae of the blowfly, Calliphora. J Cell Sci 2:89–112

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berridge MJ, Oschman JL (1969) A structural basis for fluid secretion by Malpighian tubules. Tissue Cell 1:247–272

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diamont JM, Tormey JMcD (1966a) Role of long extracellular channels in fluid transport across epithelia. Nat Lond 210:817–820

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diamont JM, Tormey JMcD (1966b) Studies on the structural basis of water transport across epithelial membranes. Fed Proc 25:1458–1463

    Google Scholar 

  • Fashing NJ (1984) A possible osmoregulatory organ in the Algophagida (Astigmata). In: Griffiths DA, Bowman CE (eds) Acarology VI, vol 1. Ellis Horwood, Chichester, pp 310–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Fashing NJ (1988) Fine structure of the Claparede organs and genital papillae of Naiadacarus arboricola (Astigmata: Acaridae), an inhabitant of water-filled treeholes. In: Channabasavanna GP, Viraktamath CA (eds) Progress in acarology, vol 1. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co, New Delhi, pp 219–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Fashing NJ, Marcuson KS (1997) Fine structure of the axillary organs of Fusohericia lawrencei Baker and Crossley (Astigmata: Algophagidae). In: Mitchell R, Horn DJ, Needham GR, Welbourn WC (eds) Acarology IX. Ohio Biological Survey, Columbus, pp 381–384

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldschmidt T, Alberti G, Meyer ED (1999) Presence of acetabula-like structures on the coxae of the neotropical water mite genus Neotyrrellia (Tyrreliinae, Limnesiidae, Prostigmata). In: Bruin J, Geest LPS, Sabelis MW (eds) Ecology and evolution of the Acari. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 491–497

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Grandjean F (1946) Au subjet de l’organe de Claparède, des eupathidies multiples et des taenidies mandibulaire chez les Acariens actinochitineux. Arch Sci Phys Natur 5 Période 28:63–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Grandjean F (1948) Remarques sur l’évolution numérique des papilles genitals et de l’organe de Claparède chez les Hydracariens. Bull Mus Natn Hist Nat Paris 2 Série 21:75–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Grandjean F (1955) L’organe de Claparède et son écaille chez Damaeus onustus Koch. Bull Mus Natn Hist Nat Paris 2 Série 27:285–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Halik L (1930) Zur Morphologie, Homologie und Funktion der Genitalnäpfe bei Hydracarinen. Zeitsch Wiss Zool 136:223–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston DE, Wacker RR (1967) Observations on postembryonic development in Eutrombicula splendens (Acari-Acariformes). J Med Ent 4:306–310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Komnick H (1977) Chloride cells and chloride epithelia of aquatic insects. Int Rev Cytol 49:285–329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krantz GW (1978) A manual of acarology, 2nd edn. Oregon State University Publications, Corvallis

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds ES (1963) The use of lead citrate at high pH an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 17:208–212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shatrov AB (2000) Trombiculid mites and their parasitism on vertebrate hosts. St.-Petersburg University Publishers, St.-Petersburg (in Russian, with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shatrov AB (2004) Ultrastructure and probable function of urstigmae (Claparède organs) in mites of the families Trombiculidae and Microtrombidiidae (Acariformes: Parasitengona). Belg J Entomol 6:43–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Shatrov AB (2008) Anatomy and ultrastructure of genital papillae in the Parasitengona (Acariformes). Int J Acarol 34:347–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shatrov AB, Soldatenko EV, Stolbov VA et al (2019) Ultrastructure and functional morphology of dermal glands in the freshwater mite Limnochares aquatica (L., 1758) (Acariformes, Limnocharidae). Arth Str Dev 49:85–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sokolov II (1940) Faune de l’URSS. Arachnides. Vol. V, N 2 Hydracarina (1-re partie: Hydrachnellae). Edition de l’Academie des Sciences de l’URSS, Moscou, Leningrad (in Russian)

  • Tuzovskiy PV (1987) Morphology and postembryonic development of water mites. Nauka, Moscow (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vainstein BA (1965) Structure of larvae of water mites (Hydrachnellae) Biological processes in internal waters. Trudy Ins Biol Int Wat 12:163–177 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vainstein BA (1980) Determination keys of larvae of water mites. Nauka, Leningrad (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vercammen-Grandjean PH (1976) Les organs de Claparède et les papilles genitals de certains acariens sont-ils des organs respiratoires? Acarologia 17:624–630

    Google Scholar 

  • Witalinski W, Szlendak E, Boczek J (1990) Anatomy and ultrastructure of the reproductive systems of Acarus siro (Acari: Acaridae). Exp Appl Acarol 10:1–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Witalinski W, Liana M, Alberti G (2002) Fine structure and probable function of ring organs in the mite Histiostoma feroniarum (Acari: Actinotrichida: Acaridida: Histiostomatidae). J Morph 253:255–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a Grant no 18-04-00075-a from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and by the State Federal Scientific Programs N AAAA-A17-117030310209-7 and AAAA-A19-119020690079-9. We are very thankful to E. T. Shevchenko, post-graduate student, for help in cutting TEM sections. All instrumental procedures were performed with equipment of the “Taxon” Research Resource Centre of Zoological Institute RAS, St-Petersburg, Russia (https://www.ckp-rf.ru/ckp/3038/?sphrase_id=8879024).

Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant no 18-04-00075-a) and by the State Federal Scientific Programs AAAA-A19-119020790133-6 and AAAA-A19-119020690079-9.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya emb., 1, 199034, Saint Petersburg, Russia

    Andrey B. Shatrov & E. V. Soldatenko

Authors
  1. Andrey B. Shatrov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. V. Soldatenko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrey B. Shatrov.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no competing interests.

Ethical approval

Collection of specimens was conducted in accordance with national and provincial guidelines and permits.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shatrov, A.B., Soldatenko, E.V. Ultrastructure of the genital papillae in the fresh-water mite Limnochares aquatica (L., 1758) (Acariformes, Limnocharidae). Zoomorphology 139, 51–59 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-019-00471-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-019-00471-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation