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Sensory structure of the tentacles of the slug, Arion ater (Pulmonata, Mollusca)

1. Ultrastructure of the distal epithelium, receptor cells and tentacular ganglion

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Summary

The simple epithelium on the tentacle tips of th slug, Arion ater is composed, essentially, of supporting cells and sensory dendrites, and bears, at its distal surface, a brushborder of unusual structure. This brush-border is formed from the plasmatic extensions of supporting cells and the terminations of sensory dendrites. It is composed of two structurally distinct regions, an outer region containing “twig-like” extensions of the plasmatic processes, and an inner region containing the terminations of the sensory dendrites. No sensory terminations pass into the outer region.

Numerous receptor cells lie beneath the epithelium. There are two distinct morphological kinds, of which one kind contains dense-cored vesicles. Somato-dendritic synapses can occur between receptor cells.

The structure of the tentacular ganglion is somewhat similar to the procerebrum, but significantly different from that of other molluscan ganglia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University College, Cardiff

    B. R. Wright

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  1. B. R. Wright
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The author wishes to thank Dr. D. K. Roach and Mr. T. Davies for their helpful advice and Drs. D. Graham and U. Zylstra for proof-reading the manuscripts. This research was carried out during the tenure of an S.R.C. research studentship.

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Wright, B.R. Sensory structure of the tentacles of the slug, Arion ater (Pulmonata, Mollusca). Cell Tissue Res. 151, 229–244 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222225

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