Female germline stem cell niches of earwigs are structurally simple and different from those of Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: Journal of morphology (1931) Vol. 271; no. 5; pp. 634 - 640
• Main Authors: Tworzydlo, Waclaw, Kloc, Malgorzata, Bilinski, Szczepan M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.05.2010
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological - physiology; Animals; argosome; Basal cells; Cell proliferation; cytoneme; Cytoplasmic Vesicles - physiology; Cytoplasmic Vesicles - ultrastructure; Differentiation; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila melanogaster - physiology; Drosophila melanogaster - ultrastructure; earwigs; Female; Filaments; Germ Cells - physiology; Germ Cells - ultrastructure; Insecta - genetics; Insecta - ultrastructure; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; oogenesis; Oogenesis - physiology; Organelles - physiology; Organelles - ultrastructure; Ovaries; Ovary - growth & development; Ovary - ultrastructure; Phylogeny; Reproduction - physiology; Sexual Maturation - physiology; Somatic cells; Species Specificity; Stem Cell Niche - physiology; Stem Cell Niche - ultrastructure; Stem cells; Stem Cells - physiology; Stem Cells - ultrastructure; Stromal Cells - physiology; Stromal Cells - ultrastructure; Vesicles
• ISSN: 0362-2525; 1097-4687
• DOI: 10.1002/jmor.10824

Stem cells function in niches, which consist of somatic cells that control the stem cells' self‐renewal, proliferation, and differentiation. Drosophila ovary germline niche consists of the terminal filament (TF) cells, cap cells, and escort stem cells; signaling from the TF cells and the cap cells is essential for maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs). Here, we show that in the earwig Opisthocosmia silvestris, the female GSC niche is morphologically simple and consist of the TF cells and several structurally uniform escort cells. The most posterior cell of the TF (the basal cell of the TF) differs from remaining TF cells and is separated from the anterior region of the germarium by the processes of the escort cells, and consequently, does not contact the GSCs directly. We also show that between somatic cells of earwig niche argosome‐like vesicles and cytoneme‐like extensions are present. J. Morphol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.