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Adhesive glands in the Pterastericolidae (Plathelminthes, Rhabdocoela)

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Summary

The ultrastructure of anteroventral gland cells with processes penetrating the epidermis inPterastericola bergensis, P. fedotovi, P. pellucida and the undescribedP. (sp. Rottnest) was studied with transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Specimens ofP. pellucida were shock frozen in situ in the epithelium of their asteroid host to study the function of the glands. Secretory products released from the gland cell processes fan out towards the host epithelium. The glands are concluded to have an adhesive function. They are compared with similar structures in Neodermata and other rhabdocoel taxa. The phylogenetic significance of the glands is discussed.

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Abbreviations

b :

basal lamina

c :

cilium

cr :

ciliary rootlets

d :

septate desmosome

g :

gland cell process

gc :

gland cell

h :

host epithelium

m :

mitochondria

mc :

muscle cell

mv :

microvilli

mt :

microtubules

n :

nucleus

o :

ootype

pm :

plasma membrane

s :

secretory granule

sm :

secretory material released from dissolving secretory granules

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  1. Department of Zoology, University of Göteborg, PO Box 250 59, S-400 31, Göteborg, Sweden

    Ulf Jondelius

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  1. Ulf Jondelius
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Jondelius, U. Adhesive glands in the Pterastericolidae (Plathelminthes, Rhabdocoela). Zoomorphology 111, 229–238 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01633011

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01633011

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