Ultrastructure of the caecum of Polystomoides malayi Rohde and P. renschi Rohde (Monogenea: Polystomatidae)
Rohde, K.
International Journal for Parasitology 3(4): 461-466
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0020-7519 PMID: 4726283 Document Number: 281589
No difference was found in the structure of the caeca of Polystomoides malayi and P.renschi and the epithelial wall is formed of 2 types of cell. These cells were examined in detail in P.renschi; they correspond morphologically to those found by Halton et al. in Diclidophora [Helminthological Abstracts, 38, 4616]; the lamellate cells resemble the haematin cells but the connecting cells in Polystomoides lack lamellae. Both cell types show a granular endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes; the lamellate cells contain many large vacuoles with a dark secretion and an extensive system of tubular structures with an average diameter of 0.05 mu and lined by a triple membrane (which distinguishes them from the typical smooth endoplasmic reticulum); the 2nd type of cell has no surface lemellae, tubular structures or large dark vacuoles but contains many small and medium-sized vesicles which are usually granular. This electron microscope study is the first which has demonstrated the discharge of whole cells into the caecal lumen, confirming Llewellyn's earlier observations [Helminthological Abstracts, 23, 29lj]. Apocrine secretion also occurs.