Summary
The organ of Bellonci of Anaspides tasmaniae (Thomson) (Crustacea, Syncarida) is described light and electron microscopically, and a few histochemical tests are reported. Located ventrally in the eyestalk below the medulla interna, the organ is composed of a number of cavities. These are similar in structure in their contents and associated cellular components, which include two types of glia cells delimiting each cavity and the terminal parts of a few dendrites. Each dendrite usually bears two cilia, which project into the cavity where they split up into numerous branches. The organ is supplied by three nerve tracts: two from the medulla terminalis and one from the medulla interna. The sensory pore, which is innervated from the medulla interna, is not closely associated with the organ of Bellonci in Anaspides. No marked secretory activity is detectable by histochemical or ultrastructural observations. It is thought that the organ has a sensory function.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brooks, K. H.: The Paleozoic Eumalacostraca of North America. Bull. Amer. Paleont. 44, 163–338 (1962).
Carlisle, D. B., Passano, L. M.: The x-organ of Crustacea. Nature (Lond.) 171, 1070–1071 (1953).
Carlisle, D. B., Knowles, F. G. W.: Endocrine control in crustaceans. London: Cambridge University Press 1959.
Chaigneau, J.: Etude ultrastructurale de l'organe de Bellonci de Sphaeroma serratum (Fabricius), Crustacé Isopode Flabellifère, C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 268, 3177–3179 (1969).
Chaigneau, J.: L'organe de Bellonci de Crustacé Isopode Sphaeroma serratum (Fabricius). Ultrastructure et signification. Z. Zellforsch. 112, 166–187 (1971a).
Chaigneau, J.: Etude préliminaire de l'ultrastructure des corps en bulbe d'oignon présents dans l'organe de Bellonci de certains Crustacés. Observations faites chez Palaemon elegans Rathke, Crustacé Décapode Natantia. C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 272, 303–306 (1971b).
Dahl, E., Mecklenburg, C. v.: The sensory papilla x-organ in Boreomysis arctica Kröyer. (Crustacea, Malacostraca, Mysidacea). Z. Zellforsch. 101, 88–97 (1969).
Fahrenbach, W.: The morphology of the eyes of Limulus. II. Ommatidia of the compound eye. Z. Zellforsch. 93, 451–483 (1969).
Foot, N. C.: The Masson trichrome staining methods in routine laboratory use. Stain Technol. 8, 101–110 (1933).
Gabe, M.: Quelques applications de la coloration par la fuchsine-paraldéhyde. Bull. Micr. appl. 3, 153–162 (1953).
Gabe, M.: Neurosecretion. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1966.
Glaessner, M. F.: Evolutionary trends in Crustacea (Malacostraca). Evolution 11, 178–184 (1957).
Hanström, B.: Neue Untersuchungen über Sinnesorgane und Nervensystem der Crustaceen. I. Z. Morph. Ökol. Tiere 23, 80–236 (1931).
Hanström, B.: Neue Untersuchungen über Sinnesorgane und Nervensystem der Crustaceen. IV. Ark. Zool. 26 A, (24), 1–66 (1934).
Knowles, F. G. W., Carlisle, D. B.: Endocrine control in Crustacea. Biol. Rev. 31, 396–473 (1956).
Lake, P. S., Ong, J. E.: Ultrastructure of the “onion bodies” of the sensory pore x-organ of Paratya tasmaniensis Reek (Crustacea, Decapoda). Experientia (Basel) 26, 1129–1130 (1970).
Lake, P. S., Ong, J. E.: Observations of the organ of Bellonci of the shrimp, Paratya tasmaniensis Reek (Atyiidae: Decapoda) with particular reference to the structure of the onion body cells. (In preparation. Aust. J. Zool.)
Mayrat, A.: Yeux, centres optiques et glandes endocrines du pédoncule oculaire des Anaspidacés. C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 262D, 1542–1545 (1966).
Mugnaini, E., Walberg, F.: III. Ultrastructure of neuroglia. Ergebn. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 37, 194–236 (1964).
Pantin, C. F. A.: Notes on microscopical technique for zoologists. London: Cambridge University Press 1946.
Pearse, A. G. E.: Histochemistry, theoretical and applied, sec. ed. London: J. & A. Churchill, Ltd. 1960.
Perrelet, A., Orci, L., Baumann, F.: Evidence for granulolysis in the retinula cells of a stomatopod crustacean, Squilla mantis. J. Cell Biol. 48, 684–688 (1971).
Romeis, B.: Mikroskopische Technik, 14. Aufl. München: Leibnitz 1948.
Rüdeberg, C.: A rapid method for staining thin sections of Vestopal W-embedded tissue for light microscopy. Experientia (Basel) 23, 792 (1967).
Siewing, R.: Studies in Malacostracan morphology: Results and problems. In: Phylogeny and evolution of Crustacea. (edit. by H. B. Whittington and W. D. I. Rolfe), p. 85–103. Cambridge, Mass.: Museum of Comp. Zool. Special publication 1963.
Sleigh, M. A.: The biology of cilia and flagella. (International series of monographs on pure and applied biology, Zoology division, vol. 12.) New York: The MacMillan Company 1962.
Steedman, H. F.: Alcian Blue 8 G: a new stain for mucin. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 91, 477–479 (1950).
Trujillo-Cenóz, O.: Some aspects of the structural organization of the arthropod ganglia. Z. Zellforsch. 56, 649–682 (1962).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This investigation was supported by a grant (to T.K.) from Helge Ax:son Johnsons Stiftelse. One of us (P.S.L.) was on sabbatical leave from the University of Tasmania.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kauri, T., Lake, P.S. The structure of the organ of bellonci of the syncarid crustacean, Anaspides tasmaniae (Thomson). Z.Zellforsch 132, 431–450 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306635
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306635