Morphology and Ultrastructure of the Intestine in a Plant-Parasitic Nematode, Tylenchorhynchus dubius
Byers, J.R.; Anderson, R.V.
Journal of Nematology 5(1): 28-37
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-300X PMID: 19319292 Document Number: 61185
Tylenchorhynchus dubius has a ditylenchoid oesophagus and a clearly defined oesophago-intestinal valve, the morphology of which is described. The intestinal epithelial cells contain the usual organelles and 3 types of homogeneous globules and bear numerous microvilli similar to those of other nematodes. The intestinal epithelium also contains an extensive network of intracellular fibrillar bundles consisting of many thin filaments about 14 nm in diameter and with a regular sub-structure, and fewer thick rod-like elements, 70 to 90 nm in diameter, without a sub-structure. The filaments and rods lie in parallel paracrystalline arrays and the larger bundles, termed intestinal fasciculi, apparently correspond to the lateral or sinuous canals described in this and other tylenchids. The absence of complete lateral boundaries between cells and the great length of the fasciculi suggest that the intestinal epithelium is syncytial. The fascicular structures are apparently unique but the filaments and rods have some similarity to certain myofilament types and a contractile or strengthening function is thought most likely.