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The ultrastructure of the eyes in larval and adult polyclads (Turbellaria)

  • Ultrastructure
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Abstract

Examination of the larvae of Thysanozoon brocchii and Stylochus mediterraneus shows that they have both epidermal and cerebral eyes, while the young worms of Notoplana alcinoi have only cerebral eyes. A description is given of the ultrastructure of both kinds of eyes. The epidermal eye consists of one cup-shaped pigmented cell, whose cavity is filled with lamellae of ciliary origin. A small covering cell is located over the cup-opening. The cerebral eye is made up of three cells: one pigmented cell with ciliary projections and two rhabdomeric-type photoreceptor cells. The cerebral eye in the adult is formed of a pigmented cup without cilia and at least three rhabdomeric-type photoreceptors. A number of remarks of a morpho-onthological nature are presented.

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Abbreviations

a-:

axons

bb-:

basal body

bl-:

basal lamina

c-:

cilium

cb-:

cilium bundle

ce-:

cerebral eye

cg-:

cerebral ganglion

dp-:

dendritic process

ec-:

epithelial cells

gc-:

ganglionar cell

l-:

laminae

mv-:

microvilli

n-:

nucleus

pc-:

pigmented cup

ph-:

photoreceptor

sd-:

septate desmosomes

za-:

zonulae adhaerentes

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Author notes

  1. Enrico Ferrero

    Present address: Istituto di Zoologia e Anatomia Comparata, Univ. di Trieste, Italia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Biologia Generale, Univ. di Pisa, Via Volta 6, I-56100, Pisa, Italy

    Alberto Lanfranchi, Celina Bedini & Enrico Ferrero

Authors
  1. Alberto Lanfranchi
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  2. Celina Bedini
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  3. Enrico Ferrero
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Lanfranchi, A., Bedini, C. & Ferrero, E. The ultrastructure of the eyes in larval and adult polyclads (Turbellaria). Hydrobiologia 84, 267–275 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026189

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