Abstract
This study examines two different aspects of the growth mechanism of helical muscle fibers in adult leeches. The muscle is striated and together with cross-striated fibers shares the precise and rigorous spatial organization of actin and myosin filaments. Leeches continue to grow throughout their life. They have two suckers, which limits growth mainly to the central metameres. Each metamere increases in length and diameter. Each muscle fiber increases by inserting wedge-shaped sarcomeres between complete sarcomeres and by dividing. Before mitosis, the fiber accumulates a large amount of glycogen, and in the area of division the myofilaments change their orientation. The sarcolemma invaginates, and the cytoplasmic core containing organules is divided into two parts. Mitotic figures were observed, but indirect evidence was used as well to confirm this unusual mechanism. J. Exp. Zool. 281:171–187, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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