Seasonal- and age-dependent changes of the structure and chemical composition of the spherites in the midgut gland of the harvestmen Gyas annulatus (Opiliones)

Abstract

Spherites--round laminated membrane bound structures--are located in the cytoplasm of all cell types of the midgut gland in the harvestmen Gyas annulatus. The spherites consist of an organic matrix composed of glycoproteins and proteoglycans whose sugar portion are carboxylated glycosaminoglycans. Different elements are embedded in this matrix, and their presence varies during the life cycle. All spherites in juveniles are composed of alternating concentrically arranged electron dense and electron lucent layers of organic matrix material before overwintering (December). At that time, spherites contain calcium, phosphorus and silicon. Calcium and phosphorus are located in their electron dense layers, and silicon spotwise, mainly peripheral. Material seems to be lost during overwintering of Gyas as electron lucent "empty" layers appear in spherites in March. The "lost" material could be used as energy supply and/or to provide molecules for synthesis processes during non-nourishing overwintering. Spherites do not contain calcium and phosphorus in July and October. These elements seem to have important biological relevance in the formation and hardening of the cuticle during the moultings in spring. In contrast to calcium and phosphorus, silicon is still stored in spherites in July and October but in decreasing concentration, therefore it could be involved in metabolic processes in adult Gyas. In the period from July to the end of their adult life in late autumn, an increasing number of spherites disintegrate and their remnant organic matrix material progressively aggregates with other cellular waste material in one or more huge vacuoles of glandular cells.