Cell and Tissue Research

, Volume 169, Issue 1, pp 67–75 | Cite as

A light and electron microscopic study of the ciliated urn of Phascolosoma agassizii (sipunculida)

  • Linda Dybas
Article
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Revised:

Summary

The free swimming ciliated urn found in the coelomic fluid of Phascolosoma agassizii has been studied by electron microscopy. The urn is a multicellular structure composed of three cell types: (a) ciliated cells which possibly function in capturing cell debris and foreign particles; (b) cupola cells which are capable of phagocytozing latex particles; and (c) lobe cells which are capable of phagocytozing carbon particles. The lobes are separated from the ciliated cells by a semilunar area, with mucoprotein staining characteristics, containing fibrils which appear to be the structural support for the urn. Ciliated cells and lobes are attached to the semilunar area by hemidesmosomes.

Key words

Hemocyte Invertebrate Sipunculida Phagocytosis Ultrastructure 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1976

Authors and Affiliations

  • Linda Dybas
    • 1
  1. 1.Abteilung für Pathologie 1, Universität UlmGermany

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