Ultrastructure of glands in a scutariellid (Platyhelminthes) and possible phylogenetic implications

Carlo Iomini, Marco Ferraguti, Jean Lou Justine

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3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Subepidermal glands of the body of Troglocaridicola sp. (from the cavernicolous shrimp Troglocaris sp. in eastern Italy) were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The reservoir and duct of the glands are lined with longitudinal microtubules. Membrane-bound granules inside the gland show a distinctive pattern: they contain fibres, 18 nm in diameter, regularly arranged in bundles with a 5 nm space between fibres. From a survey of the available literature on glands of Platyhelminthes, it is concluded that this structure is known only in this species. Glands with regularly arranged 18 nm fibres, if characteristic for the Scutariellidae, could be considered an autapomorphy of this family, distinguishing it from other members of the Temnocephalida.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)199-203
Number of pages5
JournalFolia Parasitologica
Volume46
Issue number3
StatePublished - 1999

Keywords

  • Glands
  • Platyhelminthes
  • Scutariellidae
  • Temnocephalida
  • Ultrastructure

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