Fine structure of sensory tubes on the antennule of Conchoecia spinirostris (Ostracoda, Crustacea). A new type of sensillum in crustaceans.

Abstract

In addition to setae, the first antennae of Conchoecia spinirostris also bear soft sensory tubes (female: 4 tubes + 1 seta; male: 2 tubes + 3 setae). These tubes were examined electron microscopically. Each tube is divided into 4 regions: the stem, the bulbous region, the main region, and the tip. A tube contains 40--60 multiciliated dendrites, some hypodermal cells, and nonneuronal cells, and it has a specialized cuticle. Each dendrite develops within the tube, on the terminal 5--8 micron of its inner dendritic segment, approx. 25 cilia in a 9 X 2 + 0 pattern, whose rootlets are absent or only poorly developed. Each cilium splits up into 9 ramifications which extend into the tip. These ramifications partly take a spirallike course and form a ring in the distal main part beneath the cuticle. Their membranes often dilate into spindleshaped swellings. In the center of the middle and distal parts of the main region approx. 7 dendrites without cilia are located, one of them reaches into the tip. The poreless cuticle is extremely delicate and electron lucid. In contrast to the cuticle of the setae it is elastic and soft. Special substructures are described. The tubes are completely covered by a filamentous surface coat. Because of the structure and the thin walled nature of the cuticle, permeability for dissolved substances is assumed. The ciliary ramifications are likely to represent the receptive apparatus. The sensory tubes are interpreted as chemoreceptors. They can best be compared with the chemoreceptors of certain crustaceans, but differ strongly from the types of sensilla found in insects.