Light microscopical and cytochemical study on the adhesive and epidermal gland cell secretions of the branchiobdellid Cambarincola fallax (Annelida: Clitellata)

Abstract

Eight types of gland cells are present in six different epidermal glands in the branchiobdellid Cambarincola fallax. The anterior and posterior adhesive organs are both composed of viscid and releaser adhesive gland cell types, and their secretions open onto the anterior attachment site on the ventral surface of the ventral peristomial lip and onto the posterior attachment disc, respectively. The secretion granules of the viscid gland cell type are composed of neutral mucosubstances with basic proteins containing arginine and (or) lysine; the releaser gland cell type contains basic proteinaceous granules with a tryptophan component. These adhesive glands are very similar to duo-gland adhesive organs described elsewhere. Use of the term "sucker" should be discontinued as there is no suctorial mechanism at the anterior attachment site and only circumstantial evidence of such action at the posterior disc. Two epidermal gland cell types occur together in groups of two to four cells at sites scattered over the body surface except in trunk segments 6 and 7. One of these epidermal gland cell types produces granular secretions formed of neutral mucosubstances with a basic protein component, and the other produces globular secretions composed of a carboxylated acid mucosubstance. Secretions from the peristomial gland cells open onto the dorsal and ventral lips. The posterolateral gland cells form three pairs: two pairs in segment 8 and one pair in segment 9. Both peristomial and posterolateral gland cells have granular secretions composed of neutral mucosubstances with a basic protein component. The two types of clitellar gland cells are arranged in groups of 7 to 13 cells with a granular secretion type predominating over one with globular secretions. The granular type consists of neutral mucosubstances with amyloid-like and strong basic protein components, and the globular type consists of a carboxylated acid mucosubstance with a nonbasic protein component.