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On the fine structure of the Octopus iris

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Summary

The Octopus iris is composed of five different layers: A, the external epithelium; B, the chromatophore layer; C, the iridocyte layer; D, the layer of muscles and collagen strands; E, the pigment epithelium. The nerves innervating the sphincter and the chromatophore muscles are identified and their neuromuscular junction is described. The motor endings of chromatophore nerves have an additional ending in presynaptic position which probably functions as a modifier of neuromuscular transmission. The chromatophores are naked and exhibit a tubular channel system between plasmalemma and pigment container which looks similar to the T-system of muscle cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurobiology Section, Stazione Zoologica di Napoli, Italy

    Dieter Froesch

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  1. Dieter Froesch
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The financial support of this investigation by the Swiss National Foundation is gratefully acknowledged.

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Froesch, D. On the fine structure of the Octopus iris. Z.Zellforsch 145, 119–129 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307193

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307193

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