The comparative account of anatomy and histology of nervous, reproductive systems and venom gland of Heterometrus xanthopus (Pocock) (Scorpionidae) and Orthochirus bicolor (Pocock) (Buthidae) from Pune and surrounding region

Abstract

To study the anatomy and histology of internal structures like nervous system, reproductive systems and venom gland of Heterometrus xanthopus (Pocock) (Scorpionidae) and Orthochirus bicolor (Pocock) (Buthidae) and also to give the comparative account of anatomy and histology of above mentioned aspects in these two species are the objectives of present studies. The nervous system of both the species of scorpions consists of large anterior cephalothoracic mass of supra-oesophageal ganglion and sub-oesophageal ganglion together with a long ventral nerve cord. The supra-oesophageal ganglion consists of protocerebrum and tritocerebrum. Median optic nerves and lateral optic nerves arise from median optic nerve centers and lateral optic nerve centers of protocerebrum. The tritocerebrum of cephalothorasic mass consists of cheliceral ganglion, located in the circum pharyngeal region at the base of paired cheliceral nerve. The sub-oesophageal ganglion of both the species consist of major pedipalpal nerve centres, ambulatory nerve centres, and vagus nerve centers and larger cells for pair of pedipalpal nerves, accessory pedipalpal nerves, four pairs of ambulatory nerves, four pairs of vagus nerves and paired nerves of ventral nerve cord respectively. A set of seven ganglia, three in mesosoma and four in the metasoma form the ventral nerve cord of both the species. Two pairs of nerves arise from each of the first six ganglia and five pairs of nerves arise from the seventh ganglia. The first six ganglia consists of the major nerve fiber tracts run the central neuropile of each ganglion, where as ganglion cells are located in the distal half of the ganglion. In addition the seventh ganglion also consists of the large nerve fibers which originate from posterior portion and extend in fifth metasomal segment, the cell bodies of these fibers are located in its the distal border.