Received: November 21, 2007.

Accepted: March 7, 2008.

Abstract published online: March 14, 2008.

Full paper published online: August 31, 2008.

HISTOLOGY AND HISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE VENOM APPARATUS OF THE BLACK SCORPION Androctonus crassicauda (OLIVIER, 1807) (SCORPIONES: BUTHIDAE)

JARRAR BM (1), AL-ROWAILY MA (1)

(1) Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Jouf University, Skaka, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT: The venom apparatus of the black scorpion Androctonus crassicauda has been characterized histologically and histochemically in the present study. The results showed that this apparatus consists of paired venom glands, each of which initially presents its own canal and posteriorily both fuse into a single common one. Each gland is covered by a sheath of striated muscle and is lined with extensively folded secretory epithelium (formed of non-secretory and secretory venom-producing cells). The outcomes also revealed that the venom-producing cells of both glands produce neutral mucosubstances, sialomucins, sulfomucins and proteins, but are devoid of glycogen. Cysteine, tyrosine, tryptophan and arginine were also detected along with activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases, mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase, aminopeptidase, cholinesterase and non-specific esterases. Structure and secretion of scorpion venom glands are discussed within the context of the present results.

KEY WORDS: Androctonus, scorpion, venom apparatus, histochemistry, phosphatases, esterases, peptidases.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

BASHIR M. JARRAR, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Jouf University, PO Box 2014, Skaka, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. Fax: 00966 4 6257328, mobile: 00966503229854. Email: bashirjarrar@yahoo.com.