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The nerve fibres in the basement membrane and related structures in Saccoglossus horsti (Enteropneusta)

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Summary

The structure of the basement membrane of Saccoglossus horsti has been examined with the electron microscope. The membrane consists of two lamellae each of two layers. An outer amorphous layer 150 nm across and an inner fibrillar layer 1–3 μm across. The fibrils of the fibrillar layer are two sizes, the majority are 5–9 nm in diameter and at least 2 μm long. The thicker 30 nm fibrils occur in small patches and have striations with a 30 nm period.

Within the lamellae of the basement membrane are blood spaces. The only regularly found structures in these spaces are blood particles some 12–16 nm in diameter.

Nerve fibres of varying diameters traverse all the layers of basement membrane. These fibres run longitudinally and obliquely through the basement membrane, and emerge amongst the muscle cells inserted into the coelomic side of the membrane. No “motor end plates” have been seen. Preliminary observations suggest that many of the nerve fibres have no sheath other than the cell membrane of the fibre itself.

The muscle cells are attached to the basement membrane by structures that resemble hemidesmosomes. The blood vessels of Saccoglossus have a basement membrane on the lumenal side of the endothelial cell cytoplasm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University College London, UK

    P. N. Dilly

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  1. P. N. Dilly
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I wish to thank Professor J. Z. Young, F. R. S. for continuous encouragement and advice. To Dr. R. Newell I am indebted for the collection and identification of the specimens. I am pleased to acknowledge my debt to Dr. R. Bellairs for the use of electron microscope facilities, and to Mrs. J. Hamilton and Mr. R. Moss for skillful technical assistance.

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Dilly, P.N. The nerve fibres in the basement membrane and related structures in Saccoglossus horsti (Enteropneusta). Z. Zellforsch. 97, 69–83 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00331872

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