Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The fine structure of the maxillary gland of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina: The end-sac

  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The gross morphology of the maxillary gland of the adult brine shrimp, Artemia salina, was studied by light microscopy, and some features of Warren's (1938) original description of the gland were confirmed. Each gland consists of two parts: an end-sac and an efferent excretory duct. The end-sac is centrally located, and around it the efferent duct coils, making three loops before continuing as a slender terminal duct which opens to the outside via an aperture on the second maxilla. The fine structure of the end-sac epithelium is remarkably similar to that of the visceral layer of Bowman's capsule of a vertebrate nephron. The cells of the end-sac are highly branched and possess regularly arranged foot processes and junctional elements similar to “filtration slit membranes”. The cytoplasm of these cells contains numerous, membrane-bounded inclusions of unknown origin and function. On the basis of ultrastructural findings, it is postulated that formation of primary urine involves ultrafiltration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, E., and H. W. Beams: Light and electron microscope studies on the cells of the labyrinth in the “green gland” of Cambarus sp. Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci. 63, 681–685 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Beams, H. W., E. Anderson, and N. Press: Light and electron microscope studies on the cells of the distal portion of the crayfish nephron tubule. Cytologia (Tokyo) 21, 50–57 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chinard, F. P.: Starling's hypothesis in the formation of edema. Bull. N. Y. Acad. Med. 38, 375–389 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Kidney, water, and electrolytes. Ann. Rev. Physiol. 26, 187–226 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Faith, G. C., and B. F. Trump: The glomerular capillary wall in human kidney disease: acute glomerulonephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and preeclampsia-eclampsia. Lab. Invest. 15, 1682–1719 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar, M. G., and G. E. Palade: Segregation of ferritin in glomerular protein absorption droplets. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 7, 297–304 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, S. L. Wissig, and G. E. Palade: Glomerular permeability. I. Ferritin transfer across the normal glomerular capillary wall. J. exp. Med. 113, 47–66 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodrich, E. S.: The study of nephridia and genital ducts since 1895. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 86, 113–392 (1945).

    Google Scholar 

  • Greene, C. W.: The circulatory system of the brine shrimp. Science 60, 411–412 (1924).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, V.: The protoplasmic basis of glomerular ultrafiltration. Amer. Heart J. 54, 1–9 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirschner, L. B.: Comparative physiology: invertebrate excretory organs. Ann. Rev. Physiol. 29, 169–196 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and S. Wagner: The site and permeability of the filtration locus in the crayfish antennal gland. J. exp. Biol. 43, 385–395 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kümmel, G.: Morphologischer Hinweis auf einen Piltrationsvorgang in der Antennendrüse von Cambarus affinis Say. (Crustacea, Decapoda). Naturwissenschaften 51, 200–201 (1964a).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Das Cölomsäckchen der Antennendrüse von Cambarus affinis Say. (Decapoda, Crustacea). Zool. Beitr. 10, 227–252 (1964b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood, A. P. M.: The osmoregulation of Crustacea. Biol. Rev. 37, 257–305 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Luft, J. H.: Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 9, 409–414 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, A. W.: Comparative physiology (excretion). Ann. Rev. Physiol. 20, 225–242 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra, R. P., and N. Kalant: Glomerular basement membrane in experimental nephrosis: chemical composition. Nephron 3, 84–102 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pease, D. C.: Pine structures of the kidney seen by electron microscopy. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 3, 295–308 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, H.: Über den Einfluß des Salzgehaltes im Außenmedium auf den Bau und die Funktion der Exkretionsorgane dekapoder Cruataceen (nach Untersuchungen an Potamobius fluviatilis und Homarus vulgaris). Z. Morph. ökol. Tiere 30, 355–381 (1935).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitts, R. F.: Physiology of the Kidney and Body Fluids. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publ. Inc. 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, E. S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodin, J.: Electron microscopy of the kidney. In: D. A. K. Black (ed.), Renal Disease p. 117–156. Oxford: Blackwell Sci. Publ. 1962a.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The diaphragm of capillary endothelial fenestrations. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 6, 171–185 (1962b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Riegel, J. A.: Micropuncture studies of chloride concentration and osmotic pressure in the crayfish antennal gland. J. exp. Biol. 40, 487–492 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Micropuncture studies of the concentrations of sodium, potassium and inulin in the crayfish antennal gland. J. exp. Biol. 42, 379–384 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Micropuncture studies of formed-body secretion by the excretory organs of the crayfish, frog and stick insect. J. exp. Biol. 44, 379–385 (1966a).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Analysis of formed bodies in urine removed from the crayfish antennal gland by micropuncture. J. exp. Biol. 44, 387–395 (1966b).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and L. B. Kirschner: The excretion of inulin and glucose by the crayfish antennal gland, Biol. Bull. (Woods Hole) 118, 296–307 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thump, B. F., and E. P. Benditt: Electron microscopic studies of human renal disease; observations of normal visceral glomerular epithelium and its modification in disease. Lab. Invest. 11, 753–781 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyson, G. E.: Gross morphology and fine structure of the maxillary gland of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina. Amer. Zool. 6, 555 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • - The fine structure of the maxillary gland of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina: The efferent duct. (In manuscript) (1968).

  • Warren, H. S.: The segmental excretory glands of Artemia salina Linn., var. principalis Simon (the brine shrimp). J. Morph. 62, 263–297 (1938).

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamada, E.: The fine structure of the renal glomerulus of the mouse. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 1, 551–566 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of California, 94720, Berkeley, California, USA

    Greta E. Tyson

  2. Department of Biological Structure School of Medicine, University of Washington, 98105, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Greta E. Tyson

Authors
  1. Greta E. Tyson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The author is grateful to Prof. Max Alfert and Prof. Richard M. Eakin for encouragement and valuable criticism. Thanks go as well to Prof. Ralph I. Smith and Dr. Ann E. Kammer for helpful comments on the manuscript. Expert assistance in the preparation of illustrations was provided by Mrs. Emily E. Reid and Mr. Alfred A. Blaker. — This research was supported in part by USPHS Grant RG-6025 to Prof. Alfert and by a USPHS predoctoral fellowship.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tyson, G.E. The fine structure of the maxillary gland of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina: The end-sac. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 86, 129–138 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340363

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340363

Keywords

Search

Navigation