Development of the accessory glands in the genital tract of female Teleogryllus commodus WALKER (Insecta, Orthoptera).

The development of the female accessory glands in Teleogryllus commodus was studied by detailed morphometric and stereological analyses. In addition, a microsurgical method was developed to quantify the gland secretion. The morphometric results yield evidence that the glands are subject to a significant growth during peak differentiation, starting immediately after the adult moult. The gland growth is exclusively caused by a hypertrophy of single gland cells with respective volume gains between 400 and 700%. According to the stereological results, the volume of mitochondria per cell is marked by an up to fourfold increase during peak differentiation. Other cell structures (rER, sER) are characterized by a similar propagation behavior. The nucleus and nucleolus grow simultaneously with the cell, indicating high production of site-specific macromolecules. Infolds of the basal cell membrane cause a progressive enlargement of the basal cell surface ensuring an increased uptake of secretory precursors from the hemolymph. Quantitative studies show that the total production of secretion increases with proceeding age and can be correlated with a rising egg-laying activity, starting on the eighth day of adult's life. This underlines the main function of the secretion as a lubricant for a facilitated transport of the eggs through the ovipositor.