Electron microscope studies on the ciliary apparatus of the gill cells of Mya arenaria.

Abstract

SummaryThe electron microscope demonstrates the morphology of the ciliary apparatus of the laterofrontal and frontal gill filament cells of Mya to be composed of cilia which appear to be made up of smaller fibrils, basal bodies which are fused with the basal ends of the cilia and intracellular fibrils which are also fused with the basal bodies at their distal ends. These intracellular fibrils extend basally and converge forming a cone-like structure with its apex ending in a region near the side of the nucleus. Frontal cells of the gills show in addition to the above components, a striated cuticular border composed of short filaments approximately 8300 A in length and 400 A in width. The cilia of the laterofrontal gill cells are more closely spaced than are those of the frontal gill cells.