Setor de Entomologia Médica e Forense, Laboratório de Transmissores de Leishmanioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Biomorfologia Parasitária, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Oct;89(4):775-80. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0133. Epub 2013 Aug 19.
The present study focused on spermatophore structure, transfer, and subsequent destination inside bloodfeeding females of the species Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius neglectus. The morphology of the spermatophore differed between the species studied, such that in T. infestans, the shape was ovaloid, whereas in R. neglectus, the shape resembled a rod. Structures' spine-like cuticulars distributed across the inner surface of the vagina of both species were observed; however, the role of these cuticulars is unknown in Triatominae. In both species, there was an opening in the spermatophore exactly where the common oviduct is connected, thereby making it possible to confirm that the process of spermatozoid migration takes place through this opening. The results obtained show that the spermatophores of T. infestans and R. neglectus differ in size, shape, and structure. Therefore, they can be used as taxonomic markers and may provide information regarding physiology and evolution.
本研究关注的是 Triatoma infestans 和 Rhodnius neglectus 这两种物种的血食雌性体内的精荚结构、传递和后续去向。研究发现，这两个物种的精荚形态存在差异，T. infestans 的形状为椭圆形，而 R. neglectus 的形状则类似于棒状。在这两个物种的阴道内表面都观察到了分布着类似刺的角质结构，但在 Triatominae 中这些角质结构的作用尚不清楚。在这两个物种中，精荚上都有一个开口，正好与共同的输卵管相连，这使得我们可以确认精子迁移的过程是通过这个开口进行的。研究结果表明，T. infestans 和 R. neglectus 的精荚在大小、形状和结构上存在差异。因此，它们可以用作分类标记，并可能提供关于生理学和进化的信息。
