Mesadenes maturation and its hormonal control in the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus

Abstract Adult maturation of the mesadenia was examined by electron microscopy. The glandular epithelium exhibits only one cell type with a polarity along the haemocoel-lumen axis. In newly emerged males, the glands show little signs of secretory activity although the narrow lumen contains some material. Dramatic changes commence at day 2. The rER increases drastically, and at day 3 cisternae of the rER are considerably distended and include a fine granulated product. The lumen of the gland widens greatly and stores material of the same appearance as in the rER inclusions. The mode of the secretory process is not clear since membrane bound vesicles are not formed. SDS-PAGE of the secretion …