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The pigmentary system of planaria

I. Morphology

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Summary

The pigmentary system of the planaria, Dugesia gonocephala s.l. (Platyhelminthes, Turbellaria, Tricladida), has been studied by light and electron microscopy. The system consists of granules contained in chromatophore-like cells embedded in the parenchyma. The cell processes penetrate between the muscle layers and extend to the sub-epidermal basal lamina. The nature of the pigment and the comparative anatomical significance of the chromatophore structure is discussed.

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The authors wish to thank Prof. Beniamino Guidetti, Istituto di Neurochirurgia, University of Rome, for generous loan of freeze-drying equipment and Prof. Alessandro Polleri, Istituto Scientifico di Medicina Interna, University of Genoa, for critically reviewing the manuscript

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Palladini, G., Medolago-Albani, L., Margotta, V. et al. The pigmentary system of planaria. Cell Tissue Res. 199, 197–202 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236131

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