Hydrobiologia

, Volume 84, Issue 1, pp 253–257 | Cite as

Ultrastructural observations on paracnids. I: Coelogynopora axi Sopott (Turbellaria, Proseriata)

  • Beate Sopott-Ehlers
Ultrastructure

Abstract

The ‘Schlauchdrüsen’ or paracnids of Coelogynopora axi Sopott, 1972 consist of two components: a muscle cell and a secretory cell.

The secretory cell is provided with a tube, which bears a border of microvilli. In the normal position the tube is situated in the interior of the secretory cell, and the microvilli stand at the inner side of the tube. After expulsion of the tube the microvilli are situated at its free surface.

The evagination takes place in response to chemical stimuli and is effected by the contraction of the myofibrils of the muscle cell.

The paracnids are supposed to be mechanisms of defense.

However, conformities with nematocysts and spirocysts of the cnidarians do not exist.

The paracnids in other species of the Coelogynoporidae, for example in Invenusta paracnida (Karling, 1966) and Carenscoilia bidentata Sopott, 1972 differ from those of C. axi in many details.

Keywords

Turbellaria Proseriata Coelogynoporidae ultrastructure paracnids 

Abbreviations

bl-

basement lamina

ep-

epidermis

hd-

hemidesmosomes

mc-

muscle cell

mt-

microtubules

mv-

microvilli

nsc-

nucleus of the secretory cell

sb-

bowl containing secretion granules

sc-

secretory cell

sd-

septate desmosome-like structures

sg-

secretion granules

t-

tube

tf-

tonofilaments

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Copyright information

© Dr W. Junk Publishers 1981

Authors and Affiliations

  • Beate Sopott-Ehlers
    • 1
  1. 1.II. Zoologisches Institut und Museum der Univ. GöttingenGöttingenF.R.G.

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