Hendricks G M, Hadley N F
Tissue Cell. 1983;15(5):761-79. doi: 10.1016/0040-8166(83)90049-6.
Cuticle segments from the thorax, abdomen, and jumping legs of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus, were examined using histological techniques for light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and direct examination of frozen-fractured cuticle. The surface of untreated cuticle is covered by a lipid film which obscures fine surface detail. Standard EM preparative procedures, as well as washing the cuticle with ethanol before examination, remove this film exposing previously covered openings to dermal gland ducts and wax canals. An epicuticle, exocuticle, mesocuticle, endocuticle, and a deposition layer were present in all transverse sections of cuticle. Light microscopy showed that the exocuticle and mesocuticle are heavily impregnated with lipids, whereas there is little lipid associated with the endocuticle. Frozen-fractured cuticle clearly shows the 'plywood' structure of the meso- and endocuticle, while the exocuticle fractures as if it were a solid sheet. The epicuticle is composed of a dense homogeneous layer, cuticulin, outer epicuticle, and the outer membrane. Superficial wax was detected only in cuticle samples prepared using vinylcyclohexane dioxide as a polar dehydrant. The results were used to construct a comprehensive model of the cuticle of A. domesticus.
采用组织学技术，通过光学显微镜、扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜，以及对冷冻断裂角质层的直接观察，对家蟋蟀（Acheta domesticus）胸部、腹部和跳跃足的角质层片段进行了检查。未处理的角质层表面覆盖着一层脂质膜，这层膜掩盖了精细的表面细节。标准的电子显微镜制备程序，以及在检查前用乙醇清洗角质层，都会去除这层膜，暴露出先前被覆盖的真皮腺导管和蜡道开口。在角质层的所有横切面中都存在上表皮、外表皮、中表皮、内表皮和一个沉积层。光学显微镜显示，外表皮和中表皮富含脂质，而内表皮几乎没有脂质。冷冻断裂的角质层清楚地显示了中表皮和内表皮的“胶合板”结构，而外表皮断裂时就像一块固体薄片。上表皮由致密均匀的角质层、外表皮和外膜组成。仅在使用二氧化乙烯环己烷作为极性脱水剂制备的角质层样本中检测到表面蜡质。这些结果被用于构建家蟋蟀角质层的综合模型。
