Morphology of the dorsal vessel in the abdomen of the blood-feeding insect Rhodnius prolixus

Abstract

The dorsal vessel (DV) in the abdomen of the blood-feeding insect Rhodnius prolixus was divided functionally into two regions, the heart, into which haemolymph entered the DV through four pairs of ostia located in abdominal segment VII, and the aorta, along which the haemolymph was propelled from abdominal segment VI to the thorax. Osmium-fixed whole mounts revealed the DV to consist of spirally arranged striated muscle fibers and to possess two rows of ventrally attached longitudinal fibers extending the length of the abdomen. Seven pairs of alary muscles were found attached to the DV in the posterior abdominal segments. Contractions of the alary muscles attached to the ventral surface of abdominal segments VII and VIII served to expand the heart. Electron microscopy revealed the DV to consist of a thin layer of contractile elements surrounded by an inner (intima) and outer (adventitia) connective tissue layer. Embedded in the intima along each lateral side of the DV were two large groups of endocardial cells extending the length of the DV. A small group of pericardial cells was embedded in the adventitia along the mid-ventral side of the DV, and clusters of pericardial cells were found attached to the alary muscles. Nerve terminals were found only on the heart: they contained agranular synaptic vesicles approximately 30 nm in diameter and densely stained granules approximately 100-120 nm in diameter. These structural components are discussed in relation to the role of the DV in circulation.