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Ultrastructure of the lycophora larva of Gyrocotyle urna (Cestoda, Gyrocotylidea)

III. the protonephridial system

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Summary

The ultrastructure of the protonephridial system of the lycophore larva of Gyrocotyle urna Grube and Wagener, 1852, is described. It consists of six terminal cells, at least two proximal canal cells, two distal canal cells and two nephridiopore cells. The terminal cells and the proximal canal cell build up the filtration weir with its two circles of weir rods. The proximal canal cell constitutes a solid, hollow cylinder without a cell gap and desmosome. The distal canal cell is characterized by a strong reduction of the canal lumen by irregularly shaped microvilli. The nephridiopore region is formed by a nephridiopore cell; its cell body is located at some distance proximally within the larva. The connection among different canal cells is brought about by septate desmosomes. Morphological, evolutionary and functional aspects of the protonephridial system within Platyhelminthes are discussed. The structure of the proximal canal cells without a desmosome is considered an autapomorphy of Cestoda.

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Abbreviations

ci :

cilia of the terminal cell

Co :

distal canal cell

col :

lumen of the distal canal cell

Ep :

epidermis

er :

outer rods of the filtration weir

il :

inner leptotriches

ir :

inner rods of the filtration weir

ld :

lipid droplets

mt :

microtubule

mv :

microvilli

Nc :

nephridiopore cell

Ne :

neodermis anlage cells

nu :

nucleus

pC :

proximal canal cell

ro :

ciliary rootlets

sd :

septate desmosome

Tc :

terminal cell

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  1. W. E. R. Xylander

    Present address: Institut für Allgemeine und Spezielle Zoologie der Justus-Liebig-Universität, Stephanstr. 24, D-6300, Gießen, Federal Republic of Germany

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  1. II. Zoologisches Institut der Universität Göttingen, Berliner Str. 28, D-3400, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany

    W. E. R. Xylander

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Xylander, W.E.R. Ultrastructure of the lycophora larva of Gyrocotyle urna (Cestoda, Gyrocotylidea). Zoomorphology 107, 88–95 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312118

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