Development of the alimentary tract during morphogenesis of the metacercariae of Levinseniella brachysoma

Abstract

AbstractFor the first time the development of the alimentary tract of Levinseniella brachysoma metacercaria (Trematoda: Microphallidae) obtained experimentally from Gammarus oceanicus has been described. The foregut primordium in 16-day-old metacercariae is represented by a syncytial cylindrical cord, resulting from the fusion of embryonic cells. Non-fused parts of the plasma membranes of adjacent cells are revealed as gap cavities within the cord. Later (30th day post infection) the lumen of the foregut is formed as a result of both partial vacuolization of the cytoplasm and by a broadening of the gap cavities, resulting from a thinning of the cytoplasmic spaces between them. Besides the usual organelles, the foregut of the mature metacercaria (42nd day p.i.) contains dense secretory granules in the apical cytoplasm region and numerous microtubules in basal areas. The cellular gastrodermis is formed later than the foregut syncytium (on day 30 p.i.); its large cells contain well-developed Golgi complexes, RER and mitochondria. A noteable inclusion of the gastrodermal cells of mature metacercariae are spherical granules of moderate electron density measuring up to 3 μm in diameter. On the basis of an analysis of the ultrastructural data the possible functioning of the metacercarial alimentary tract is discussed.