New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts

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Unicellular adhesive secretion glands and other cells in the parenchyma of Temnocephala novaezealandiae (Platyhelminthes, Temnocephaloidea): intercell relationships and nuclear pockets

J. B. WILLIAMS

Department of Zoology
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract  The nucleus of a unicellular adhesive gland of Temnocephala novaezealandiae possesses a "honeycomb" layer and is closely surrounded by many asymmetrical desmosomes. The gland is deeply invaginated by trophic prolongations of parenchymal cells ending at the juxtanuclear desmosomes, a characteristic cytomorphology shared by other cell types in the parenchyma, including rhabditogenic glands. Perinuclear mitochondria, typically of indented form, are associated with the penetrative processes. Individual muscle fibres are inserted between apposed plasma membranes of the gland and parenchymal cells within the gland cell's outermost boundaries, and are completely surrounded by the compartmentalised cytoplasm. Nuclear pockets were observed in an undifferentiated cell with the extensively invaginated morphology. The pockets contained cytoplasmic regions, probably undergoing catabolism, enveloped by extensions of both inner and outer nuclear membranes and segregated from the general matrix. Reutilisable cytoplasmic constituents may be returned to the general cytoplasm from nuclear pockets of this type. Corresponding intercell relationships and examples of nuclear pockets in other phyla are cited.

Keywords  Platyhelminthes; Temnocephaloidea; Temnocephala novaezealandiae; adhesive secretion glands; parenchyma; trophic cell processes; desmosomes; mitochondria; cellular interrelationships; nuclear pockets

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1941K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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