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Ultrastructural studies on the reproductive system of Gyrocotylidea and Amphilinidea (Cestoda)

I. Vitellarium, vitellocyte development and vitelloduct in Amphilina foliacea (Rudolphi, 1819)

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Abstract

The ultrastructure of the vitellar follicles, vitellocyte development, and the vitelloduct are described. The follicles are enclosed in a cytoplasmic sheath that sends processes toward the follicle center, filling the space between the vitellocytes. Immature vitellocytes are rounded and show few organelles. During maturation, the vitellocytes increase in volume and a well-elaborated endoplasmic reticulum and numerous dictyosomes are built up; shell protein vesicles and eventually lipid droplets are synthesized. In mature vitellocytes, shell protein vesicles and lipid droplets fill most of the cell volume and the amount of free cytoplasm is greatly reduced. The vitelloduct is ciliated and folds arising from the duct wall extend into the lumen. The nuclei of the duct cytoplasm are intraepithelial; cell borders or desmosomes within the duct wall were not observed. The contraluminal membrane of the vitelloduct shows elaborated infoldings, which occur less extensively if vitellocytes are present within the duct lumen. Vitellocyte development of Amphilina is compared with that of other Platyhelminthes. The morphology and function of vitelloducts and other genital ducts in Neodermata are discussed. The occurrence of syncytial epithelia in genital ducts is considered to be an autapomorphy of Cestoda.

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Abbreviations

I :

Immature vitellocytes

II :

maturing vitellocytes

III :

mature vitellocytes

AZ :

cell surrounding the follicle and vitellocytes

BP :

basal plate

CO :

male genital opening

DI :

dictyosome

EB :

electron-dense body

EDF :

electron-dense fibers

ER :

endoplasmic reticulum

GE :

germarium

GL :

glycogen

HA :

anterior haptor

LD :

lipid droplet

MI :

mitochondria

NU :

nucleus

SG :

shell-protein granules

TE :

testes

UT :

uterus

VA :

vagina

VD :

vitelloduct

VE :

vesicle

VI :

vitellarium

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  1. W. E. R. Xylander

    Present address: Institut für Allgemeine und Spezielle Zoologie, Stephanstrasse 24, D-6300, Giessen, Federal Republic of Germany

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  1. II. Zoologisches Institut und Museum der Universität Göttingen, Berliner Strasse 28, D-3400, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany

    W. E. R. Xylander

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Xylander, W.E.R. Ultrastructural studies on the reproductive system of Gyrocotylidea and Amphilinidea (Cestoda). Parasitol Res 74, 363–370 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00539459

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