Summary
The clamp wall ofGastrocotyle trachuri has been found to consist predominantly of radially orientated myofibres. Nearly all the myofibres appear to be almost completely filled with myofilaments; these being of two kinds, thick and thin ones arranged in a manner similar to that observed in other platyhelminth muscles. Nothing resembling dense bodies was observed within the fibres, but at both ends of the fibres electron dense attachment plaques are present. These attachment plaques appear to have a dual function acting both as hemidesmosomes and as attachment points for the thin filaments. The detailed structure of the fibres suggests that the clamp wall is in fact composed of single radially orientated sarcomeres.
The possible role of the clamp wall in the attachment of the parasite to its host is briefly discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albertson, D.G., Thomson, J.N.: The pharynx ofCaenorhabditis elegans. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. (Biol.)275, 299–325 (1976)
Bovet, J.: Contribution à la morphologie et à la biologie deDiplozoon paradoxum v. Nordmann, 1832. Bul. Soc. Neuchâtel. Sci. Nat.90, 63–159 (1967)
Burton, P.R.: The ultrastructure of the integument of the frog bladder fluke,Gorgoderina sp. J. Parasitol.52, 926–34 (1966)
Chien, P., Koopowitz, H.: The ultrastructure of neuromuscular systems inNotoplana acticola, a free-living polyclad flatworm. Z. Zellforsch.133, 277–88 (1972)
Goto, S.: Studies on the ectoparasitic trematodes of Japan. J. Coll. Sci., Imperial University, Japan8, 1–273 (1895)
Hagopian, M.: The myofilament arrangement in the femoral muscle of the cockroach,Leucophaeae maderae. J. Cell Biol.28, 545–62 (1966)
Halton, D.W., Stranock, S.D.: Ultrastructure of the foregut and associated glands ofCalicotyle kroyeri (Monogenea: Monopisthocotyle). Int. J. Parasitol.6, 517–26 (1976)
Hess, A.: The sarcoplasmic reticulum, the T system, and the motor terminals of slow and twitch muscle fibres in the garter snake. J. Cell Biol.26, 467–76 (1965)
Huxley, H.E., Hanson, J.: The molecular basis of contraction in cross-striated muscle. In: Structure and function of muscle, G.H. Bourne, ed. Vol.1, pp. 183–227. New York: Academic Press 1960
Huxley, A.F., Taylor, R.E.: Local activation of striated muscle fibres. J. Physiol.144, 426–41 (1958)
Knowles, J.F.: Studies on some aspects of the functional morphology and population dynamics of monogenean gill parasites of fishes. Ph.D. thesis, University of Birmingham 1972
Køie, M.: On the histochemistry and ultrastructure of the tegument and associated structures of the cercaria ofZoogonoides viviparus in the first intermediate host. Ophelia9, 165–206 (1971)
Kritsky, D.C., Kruidenier, F.J.: Fine structure and development of the body wall in the monogeneanGyrodactylus eucaliae Ikezaki and Hoffman, 1957. Proc. Helminthol. Soc. Wash.43, 47–58 (1976)
Llewellyn, J.: The adhesive mechanism of monogenetic trematodes: the attachment ofPlectanocotyle gurnardi (v. Ben. and Hesse) to the gills ofTrigla. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. UK35, 507–14 (1956)
Llewellyn, J.: The mechanism of attachment ofKuhnia scombri (Kuhn, 1829) (Trematoda: Monogenea) to the gills of its hostScomber scombrus, including a note on the taxonomy of the parasite. Parasitology47, 30–9 (1957)
Llewellyn, J.: The adhesive mechanism of monogenetic trematodes: the attachment of species of the Diclidophoridae to the gills of gadoid fishes. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. UK37, 67–79 (1958)
Llewellyn, J.: The effects of the host and its habits on the morphology and life cycle of a monogenean parasite. In: Symposium on helminths bound to aquatic conditions, Prague 1962: Parasitol. Cesk. Adad. Ved. 1964
Llewellyn, J., Owen, I.L.: The attachment of the monogeneanDiscocotyle sagittata Leuckart to the gills ofSalmo trutta L. Parasitology50, 1–9 (1960)
Lowy, J., Hanson, J.: The ultrastructure of invertebrate smooth muscles. Physiol. Rev.42 (suppl. 5), 34–47 (1962)
Lumsden, R.D., Byram, III, J.: The ultrastructure of cestode muscle. J. Parasitol.53, 326–47 (1967)
Lumsden, R.D., Foor, W.E.: Electron microscopy of schistosome cercarial muscle. J. Parasitol.54, 780–94 (1968)
Lyons, K.M.: The chemical nature and evolutionary significance of monogenean attachment sclerites. Parasitology56, 63–100 (1966)
MacRae, E.K.: Observations on the fine structure of the pharyngeal muscle in the planarianDugesia tigrina. J. Cell Biol.18, 651–62 (1963)
MacRae, E.K.: The fine structure of muscle in a marine turbellarian. Z. Zellforsch.68, 348–62 (1965)
Morita, M.: Electron microscope studies on planaria. I. Fine structure of muscle fibre in the head of the planarianDugesia dorotocephala. J. Ultrastruct. Res.13, 383–95 (1965)
Morris, G.P., Halton, D.W.: Electron microscope studies ofDiclidophora merlangi (Monogenea: Polyopisthocotylea). II. Ultrastructure of the tegument. J. Parasitol.57, 49–61 (1971)
Nuttman, E.J.: The fine structure and organisation of the tail musculature of the cercaria ofSchistosoma mansoni. Parasitology68, 147–59 (1974)
Owen, I.L.: The attachment of the monogeneanDiplozoon paradoxum to the gills ofRutilus rutilus. II. Structure and mechanism of the adhesive apparatus. Parasitology53, 463–68 (1963)
Page, S.: A comparison of the fine structure of frog slow and twitch muscle fibres. J. Cell Biol.26, 477–97 (1965)
Peachey, L., Huxley, A.F.: Structural identification of twitch and slow striated muscle fibres of the frog. J. Cell Biol.13, 177–80 (1962)
Ramalingam, K.: Chemical nature of monogenean sclerites. I. Stabilization of clamp-protein by formation of dityrosine. Parasitology66, 1–7 (1973)
Reader, T.A.J.: Ultrastructural, histochemical and cytochemical observations on the body wall of the daughter sporocyst ofCercaria helvetica XII (Dubois 1927). Z. Parasitenkd.45, 243–61 (1975)
Rees, F.G.: The ultrastructure of the body wall and associated structures of the cercaria ofCryptocotyle lingua (Creplin) (Digenea: Heterophyidae) fromLittorina littorea (L). Z. Parasitenkd.44, 239–65 (1974)
Rees, F.G.: The arrangement and ultrastructure of the musculature, nerves and epidermis, in the tail of the cercaria ofCryptocotyle lingua (Creplin) fromLittorina littorea (L). Proc. R. Soc. Lond. (Biol.)190, 165–86 (1975)
Rees, F.G.: The development of the tail and the excretory system in the cercaria ofCryptocotyle lingua (Creplin) (Digenea: Heterophyidae) fromLittorina littorea (L). Proc. R. Soc. Lond. (Biol.)195, 425–52 (1977)
Reger, J.F.: Studies on the fine structure of cercarial tail muscle ofSchistosoma sp. (Trematoda). J. Ultrastruct. Res.57, 77–86 (1976)
Roggen, D.R.: Striated muscles in the pharynx ofEnoplus communis. Nematologica16, 603–05 (1970)
Shoenberg, C.F., Needham, D.M.: A study of the mechanism of contraction in vertebrate smooth muscle. Biol. Rev.51, 53–104 (1976)
Silk, M. H., Spence, I.M.: Ultrastructural studies of the blood flukeSchistosoma mansoni. II. The musculature. S. Afr. J. Med. Sci.34, 11–20 (1969)
Spiro, D., Hagopian, M.: On the assemblage of myofibrils. Symposia of the international society for cell biology.6. London, New York: Academic Press 1968
Waterston, R.H., Epstein, H.F., Brenner, S.: Paramyosin ofCaenorhabditis elegans. J. Mol. Biol.90, 285–90 (1974)
Wilson, R. A.: The fine structure and organisation of the musculature in the miracidium ofFasciola hepatica. J. Parasitol.55, 1153–61 (1969)
Winkelman, L.: Comparative studies of paramyosin. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (B)55, 391–97 (1976)
Yin, W. Y., Sproston, N.G.: Studies on the monogenetic trematodes of China. 5. A note onDiplozoon nipponicum Goto from the goldfish. Sinensia19, 82–85 (1948)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shaw, M.K. The ultrastructure of the clamp wall of the monogenean gill parasiteGastrocotyle trachuri . Z. Parasitenkd. 58, 243–258 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933931
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933931