• Animal cells and systems
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.85-91
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• 2006

The lynx spiders are free wandering spiders with long spines on their legs. They do not build web, but hunt small insects on plants. In spite of the facts that the wandering spiders do not produce webs for prey-catching, they also have silk apparatuses even though the functions are not fully defined. This paper describes the microstructural organization of the silk-spinning nozzles and its silk glands of the lynx spider, Oxyopes licenti, revealed by the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The silkspinning nozzles of this spider were identified as three groups: ampullate, pyriform and aciniform glands. Each group of silk gland feed silk into one of the three pairs of spinnerets. Two pairs of major ampullate glands send secretory ductules to the anterior spinnerets, and another two pair of minor ampullate glands supply the middle spinnerets. In addition, the pyriform glands feed silk into the anterior spinnerets (25-30 pairs in females and 24-40 pairs in males), and the aciniform glands send ductules to the middle (9-12 pairs in females and 7-11 pairs in males) and the posterior spinnerets (16-20 pairs in females and 16-17 pairs in males). Among these, the ampullate one is the most predominate gland in both sexes. However the flagelliform and the aggregate glands which had the functions of cocoon production or adhesive thread production in other webbuilding spiders were not observed at both sexes of this spider.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.109-116
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• 2008

Among the four kinds of silk glands in the funnel-web spider Agelena limbata, the ampullate gland for dragline silk production is the most predominate one in both sexes, and is composed of three functional parts-excretory duct, storage ampulla and convoluted tail regions. Two pairs of major ampullate glands send secretory ductules to the anterior spinnerets, and another two pairs of minor ampullate glands supply the middle spinnerets. There are no apparent differences between the major and minor ampullate glands not only the external spigots but also their internal silk glands. However, the microstructure is very unique in this spider, because each gland has spherical shaped storage sac with twig-like branched tails. Nevertheless, the wall of the secretory region is similarly composed of a single layer of epithelial cells. The mature secretory silks in glandular epithelium are closely packed and accumulated as electron-opaque vesicles. Most of the secretory products which originated from the rough endoplasmic reticula(rER) are grown up by fusion with the surrounding small vesicles however, the Golgi complex does not seem to play an important role in this process of secretion.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.91-101
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• 1988

The ultrastructure of the sac and tail portion of the large ampullate gland and production of the silk materials in the orb web spider, Nephila clavata L. Koch, are studied with electron microscope. Large ampullate glands, the largest glands among the seven kinds of silk glands in this species, are composed of three parts which are the excretory duct, the storage sac and the convoluted tail. The wall of the sac is composed of a single layer of columnar epithelial cells. In the cytoplasm of these cells several kinds of the secretory granules, which are commonly associated with the rough endoplasmic reticula and had characteristic crystalloid, are seen. According to the morphology and internal textures of these granules, the sac portion is subdivided into proximal(connected with the convoluted tail) and distal(connected with excretory duct) portion. Between these two portions, the proximal portion is longer than the distal by four times. Silk materials, being synthesized to the shape of secretory granules, within the glandular epithelial cell of the tail portion are released to the inner cavity by the mechanism of the eccrine secretion. These secretory granules are originated from the rough endoplasmic reticula of the glandular epithelial cells, whereas no Golgi complexes has been found in any of the cells which have been examined.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.513-520
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• 1998

Though the wandering spiders do not produce webs for prey-catching, they have silk producing apparatus. Among the four kinds of silk glands in the wolf spider, Pardosa astrigera, the ampullate one is the most predominant gland in both sexes, and is composed of three functional parts; excretory duct, storage ampulla and convoluted tail regions. The duct is basically composed of three superposed types of layers which are inner cuticles, monolayered epithelial cells and peripheral connective cells. The electron lucent subcuticles which have the functions of water removal and orientation of silk fibers during polymerization are well developed at the anterior region near the spinneret. Whereas the endocuticles which contain two types of banding patterns at the cross section are developed at the rest of the duct region. The secretory silks are synthesized within the glandular epithelial cells of the tail as secretory granules, and then released to the inner cavity of the storage ampulla by the mechanism of apocrine secretion. Most of these secretory vesicles are originated from the rough endoplasmic reticula of the glandular epithelial cells, whereas no Golgi complexes are found in any of the cells which have been examined.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.49-58
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• 1989

Ultrastructure of the excretory duct of the small ampullate gland in the orb web spider, Nephila clavata L. Koch are studied with light and electron microscopes. The small ampullate glands, located near the midline portion of the abdominal cavity, are connected with the spigots(large spinning tubes) on the middle spinnerets and composed of three parts which are the excretory duct, the storage sac and the convoluted tail. The excretory duct of this gland is enclosed by a thin layer of the outer connective tissues. By the morphology of the apical cuticles and internal textures of the epithelial cells, the duct is subdivided into two regions which are proximal duct region near the sac and distal duct region near the spinnerets. At the distal region of the ducts, the subcuticle which had the function of water removal form the progenetive silk material is well developed, whereas at the proximal region this cuticle disappeared and instead of these, endocuticle is developed. Moreover the epithelium of the distal duct region is composed of columnar epithelial cells, but at the proximal region the epithelium is changed to squamous or cuboidal forms. In the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells, rough endoplasmic reticula, Golgi comlexes and large secretory vesicles related to the production of the cuticular materials are well developed. And between the adjacent epithelial cells, specialized septate junction and desmosomes are formed along the plasma membrane.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.20-32
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• 1995

Ultrastructural aspects on the production of the duct cuticle and formation of cuticular precursors within silk glands of the orb web spider, Nephila clavata L. Koch(Araneae: Araneidae), were studied using transmission electron microscope. Four kinds of silk glands(ampullate glands, tubuliform glands, flageliform glands, and aggregate glands), which connected with large spinning tubes(spigots) of the spinnerets, were examined and discussed in terms of cuticle precursor production. Inner cuticular intima which composed of three layers of cuticles-subcuticle, endocuticle and exocuticle- were commonly originated from duct epithelial cells surrounding the cuticle. The morphology and internal textures of each cuticle precursors were very diverse according to the types of silk glands. However several common features were observed. These cuticle precursors were first produced from the rough endoplasmic reticulum and next concentration was accomplished through the Golgi complex. After this step, cuticle precursors were released to the cuticle layer as a form of secretory granule by the mechanism of merocrine secretion commonly.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.145-152
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• 1998

The spinning apparatus and production of secretory silk from silk gland of the black widow spider, Latrodectus mactans were studied with scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The silk glands were located in seven groups on the spinnerets including each pair of major and minor ampullate, 3 pairs of tubuliform, 1 pair of flagelliform, 2 pairs of aggregate, about 50 pairs of pyriform and over 250 pairs of aciniform glands, respect- ively. Each group of silk gland feeds silk into one of the three spinneret pairs. Secretory silk is synthesized from rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) of glandular epithelial cells. The secretory silk is transported from toe rER into the secretory vacuoles which are grown up by fusion with the surrounding small vesicles including the secretory silk. The secretory vacuoles, which show a gradual increase in electron density with the process of maturity, are formed without involvement of the Golgi complex, suggesting that they do not play an important role in the processing of the secretory silk. The secretory silk products are released by the mechanism of apocrine secretion, losing part of their cytoplasm. Moreover, another type of silk precursor, possibly protein, appears as granular material, and is also discharged to the luminal cavity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.77-90
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• 1988

The ultrastructure of the excretory duct of the large ampullate gland in the orb web spider, Nephila clavain L. Koch are studied with light and electron microscopes. The excretory ducts of the large ampullate glands connected with the large spinning tubes(spigots) on the anterior spinnerets are basically composed of three superposed types of the layers which are inner cuticles, monolayered epithelial cells and peripheral connective cells. According to the morphological characteristics of the cuticles and internal textures of the epithelial cells, the long excretory ducts are subdivided into three(distal, middle and proximal) portions. Especially, at the distal portion of the ducts near the spinning tubes, the electron lucent subcuticles which had the functions of water removal and orientation of silk fibers are well distributed, whereas at the middle and proximal portions these layers disappeared and instead of these, endocuticles are developed. The endocuticle contains two types of bands, which are electron dense and electron lucent. And along the length of the cuticular stem in the excretory duct, these two alternating bands are twisted spirally. In the cytoplasm of the columnar epithelial cells of the distal portion, rough endoplasmic reticula and Golgj complexes, related to the production of the cuticular materials are well developed. Between the adjacent epithelial cells, specialized septate junctions and desmosomes are formed along the plasma membranes. At the proximal portion of the duct, densely accumulated secretory materials appeared, and these are released to the inner canal by the apocrine secretion.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.89-96
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• 2008

배회성거미류의 일종으로 주로 물가에 서식하는 닷거미과 (Pisauridae)의 황닷거미(Dolomedes sulfureus)를 실험재료로 실크 분비장치의 미세구조를 주사전자현미경(FESEM)으로 관찰하고, 토사관의 미세구조적 특성을 분석하였다. 황닷거미는 먹이를 포획하기 위한 거미줄을 만들지 않지만, 유충을 보호하기 위한 그물을 만드는 종류로 병상선(ampullate glands), 이상선(pyriform glands), 포도상선(aciniform glands) 등, 세 종류의 견사선과 이와 연결된 실젖 표면의 독특한 토사관을 가지고 있었다. 두 쌍의 대 병상선은 앞실젖을 통해, 그리고 또 다른 두 쌍(수컷의 경우 1${\sim}$2쌍)의 소병상선은 가운데실젖을 통해 분비관이 연결되어 있었다. 이상선은 앞실젖 표면의 토사관을 통해(암컷: 62${\sim}$68쌍, 수컷: 45${\sim}$50쌍) 분비되었고, 포도상선은 가운데실젖(암컷: 33${\sim}$40쌍, 수컷:18${\sim}$25쌍)과 뒷실젖(암컷: 42${\sim}$50쌍, 수컷: 24${\sim}$28쌍)의 토사관을 통해 분비됨이 확인되었다. 이들 중, 병상선과 연결된 토사관이 암수 모두에서 가장 현저한 분비 특성을 가진 것으로 관찰되었다.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.315-323
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• 2003

들풀거미(Agelena limbata) 실크 분비장치의 방적돌기와 토사관의 미세구조를 고배율의 전자현미경으로 관찰하고, 그 형태적 특성을 분석하였다. 세 쌍의 방적돌기 중에서 전 및 후방적돌기는 각각 2개의 마디로 구성되어 있는 반면, 중방적돌기는 단일 마디로 이루어져 있었으며, 특히 후방적돌기는 후방으로 매우 신장되어 있음이 관찰되었다. 방적돌기 표면에 형성된 토사관은 병상선(ampullate gland), 관상선(tubuliform gland), 이상선(pyriform gland), 포도상선(aciniform gland) 등, 4종류로 구성되어 있었다. 병상선의 토사관은 전방적돌기와 중방적돌기 표면에 각 2쌍씩이 형성되어 있었고, 암컷에서만 관찰되는 관상선의 토사관은 중방적돌기와 후방적돌기에서 관찰되었다. 또한 이상선의 토사관은 전방적돌기에서 그리고 포도상선의 토사관은 중 및 후방적돌기에서 확인되었다. 방적돌기 방적면에 형성된 토사관은 공통적으로 기저마디와 말단마디로 구성되어 있었는데, 포도상선의 토사관은 기저마디에 비해 말단마디가 매우 신전된 특징을 지니고 있음이 확인되었다.