Cell junctions are dynamic complexes that are crucial for epithelial organization and selective permeability. In arthropods, mechanical stability is primarily provided by adherens junctions, whereas septate junctions (SJs) provide a selectively permeable barrier for paracellular transport. We investigated the ultrastructural characteristics of subapical adherens junctions and SJs in the epidermis, hindgut and digestive glands of the arthropod Porcellio scaber (Crustacea: Isopoda). We characterized the remodeling of the ultrastructural structure of the junctions during molting and the differentiation and remodeling of the junctions during embryonic and postembryonic development. Using microcomputed tomography, we have demonstrated the morphogenesis of the organs of the digestive system in the context of the whole organism and, through a complementary analysis of the histological organization of the epithelia and a morphometric analysis of the cells and intercellular junctions at the ultrastructural level, we have characterized the structural changes during development at all the above-mentioned levels of biological organization. We have shown that the ultrastructure of the subapical adherens junctions is similar in all ectodermal epithelia studied and developmental stages analyzed, whereas the ultrastructure of the SJs varies according to the function of the epithelium. The differentiation of the SJs occurs gradually. The pleated SJs, which are characteristic of ectodermal epithelia, change from shorter to longer arrays of septa and are intensively remodeled and shortened during molting. Smooth SJs in endodermal epithelia are already ultrastructurally differentiated at the mid-embryonic stage and during the development of the organism mainly elongate. The comparison with Drosophila suzukii showed differences in the structure of the smooth SJs. Smooth SJs in the endodermal epithelium of the digestive glands of P. scaber are continuous and straight, whereas in the endodermal epithelium of the midgut of D. suzukii they can be discontinuous, convoluted and more extensive.
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