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Ultrastructure of a Marine Nematode, Chromadorina germanica (Buetschli, 1874)

II. Cytology of lateral epidermal glands and associated neurocytes

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Summary

Each body pore in Chromadorina germanica females was found to lead through a canal to an epidermal gland and an associated bipolar neurocyte. The epidermal gland is a unicellular merocrine organ. Typical Golgi bodies were not found in this cell type, but multivesicular complexes may represent their functional equivalent. Several types of secretory vacuoles were observed. The contents of immature vacuoles consist of very fine granular material which is transformed in tubular elements. During this process the membranes of the vacuoles are coated by globular vesicles. Electron-dense material is deposited on the inner surface of mature vacuoles. The tubular secretion is released in the common duct of gland and neurone. 2 ciliary processes are located in this duct. They are implanted upon the dendrite of the neurocyte. The orientation of the secreted tubules is preferentially parallel to the long axis of the cilia. The axon of the neurocyte is accompanied by a slender, elongated glia cell. The significance of the extracellular tubules is discussed by comparison to similar phenomena in a variety of other organisms. It is concluded that the system of gland and neurone constitutes a functional unit.

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Abbreviations

Ax:

axon

c:

sensory cilium

cu:

cuticle

die:

dictyosome region

dp:

dendritic process

du:

duct

ed:

electron-dense deposits

E.gl:

epidermal gland cell

ep:

epithelial cell

ER:

cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum

g:

globular coat

Glia:

glial element

Go:

Golgi apparatus

iv:

immature secretory vacuole

m:

mitochondrion

mb:

multivesicular body

me:

membrane

N:

nucleus

n:

nucleolus

ne:

nuclear envelope

np:

nuclear pore

pb:

polylamellar body

pc:

peripheral chromatin

r:

ribosomes

sa:

sacculae of rough endoplasr reticulum

t:

tubule(s)

v:

vacuole

ve:

Golgi vesiculae

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituut voor Dierkunde, Laboratorium voor Morfologie en Systematiek, Rijksuniversiteit K. L. Ledeganckstraat, 35, B-9000, Gent, Belgium

    P. L. Lippens

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  1. P. L. Lippens
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Lippens, P.L. Ultrastructure of a Marine Nematode, Chromadorina germanica (Buetschli, 1874). Z. Morph. Tiere 79, 283–294 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00277510

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00277510

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