Resumen

MAYA V, José F; VALIENTE, Ernesto  y  O'CALLAGHAN, James. Study of ultrastructural details of the ootheca of periplaneta americana (dictyoptera: blattidae) using scanning electron microscopy. INCI [online]. 2002, vol.27, n.5, pp.243-246. ISSN 0378-1844.

Using a modification of the standard protocol of sample processing for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), we report ultrastructural characteristics of the ootheca of Periplaneta americana, an oval and semi-cylindrical structure, which protects each batch of eggs that is laid in order to ensure the final stage of organogenesis of these insects. It can be characterized geometrically as an oval case made up of two valves with convex outer surfaces and concave inner surfaces, a suture line that surrounds the valves, a zipper-like toothed rail structure (crest), adjacent segmentations that are perpendicular to the crest, teeth consisting of pre- and post-dental elements, transverse crevices, channel-like inner structures, an internal cavity and internal loci. Detailed observations lead to conclude that the crest is a dynamic zipper-like structure that allows exchange with the outside environment through internal longitudinal apertures. An updated model of the inner transversal section of the ootheca is proposed.

Palabras clave : Morphophysiology ; Ootheca ; Periplaneta americana ; Scanning Electron Microscopy .