Figure 8

Schematic illustration demonstrating cross sections of type II and III acini from unfed Ixodes ricinus female salivary glands highlighting the organization of acinar cells and their putative associations with different axonal projections. SIFamide-positive axons (yellow), pigment dispersing factor-positive axons (PDF, brown/orange), invertebrate-specific D1-like dopamine receptor-positive axons (InvD1L, aqua-blue). SIFamide receptor (SIFa_R, red): on plasma membrane and vesicle-like structure (upper arrow) of the myoepithelial cell (MC, pink), axons accompanying the SIFa-axon surrounded by the MC (middle arrow) and canaliculi (lower arrow) of basal epithelial cell (EC, grey). Note that acinar valve (V) is covered by EC extensions and overlaid by the MC. AEC, ablumenal epithelial cell: green; GC, granular cell: blue; NC, neck cells: dark grey; N, nucleus: dotted black; AD: acinar duct; C: canaliculi of ECs; SJ: septate junctions. For description of different granular cell types in hard tick SG see^4,5.