Data from: Three-dimensional reconstruction on cell level: case study elucidates the ultrastructure of the spinning apparatus of Embia sp. (Insecta: Embioptera)

Spinning is a phenomenon not only present in spiders, but also in many other arthropods. The functional morphology and complexity of spinning organs is often poorly understood. Their elements are minute and studying them poses substantial methodological difficulties. This study presents a three-dimensional reconstruction of a silk gland of Embia sp. on cellular level, based on serial sections acquired with serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) to showcase the power of this method. Previous studies achieved either high resolution to elucidate the ultrastructure or satisfying three-dimensional representations. The high-resolution achieved by SBFSEM can be easily used to reconstruct the three-dimensional ultrastructural organization of cellular structures. The herein investigated spinning apparatus of Embioptera can be taken as an example demonstrating the potential of this method. It was possible to reconstruct a multinucleated silk gland containing 63 nuclei. We focused on the applicability of this method in the field of morphological research and provide a step-by-step guide to the methodology. This will help in applying the method to other arthropod taxa and will help significantly in adapting the method to other animals, animal parts and tissues.

纺丝行为不仅见于蜘蛛类群，亦广泛分布于诸多其他节肢动物之中。纺丝器官的功能形态学特征与复杂程度，目前仍常缺乏充分的研究认知。其组成结构极为微细，相关研究面临诸多方法学层面的显著挑战。本研究基于连续块面扫描电子显微镜（serial block-face scanning electron microscopy, SBFSEM）获取的连续切片，在细胞水平上对Embia属（Embia sp.）昆虫的丝腺开展三维重建，以展示该技术的应用效能。过往相关研究往往难以兼顾双重目标：要么仅能获得高分辨率以解析超微结构，要么仅能呈现较为完整的三维可视化效果。而SBFSEM所获取的高分辨率成像数据，可便捷地用于重建细胞结构的三维超微组织结构。本次研究所解析的纺足目（Embioptera）纺丝器，可作为该技术应用潜力的典型案例。本研究成功重建了一个包含63个细胞核的多核丝腺。本研究聚焦该方法在形态学研究领域的适用性，并提供了一套详细的方法学分步操作指南。该指南将有助于该方法在其他节肢动物类群中的推广应用，同时亦能为该方法适配其他动物、动物组织及器官的研究提供重要支撑。