The labral glands in Centropages typicus (Copepoda, Calanoida). II. Sites of secretory release.

Abstract

Two groups of external excretory pores associated with glandular units (AU and LPU) were observed on the labrum, one pair laterally and three pairs posteriorly. Each external pore leads to an underlying conical, flask-shaped epidermal chamber. The wide base of this chamber is perforated by an internal pore that delivers secretions from the excretory duct of a glandular unit. The chambers serve to protect the internal pores from turbulence in the outside environment. Expulsion of secretions from the chambers is probably brought about by contraction of labral striated muscles, which synchronizes opening of the AU and LPU pores. A complex funnel-shaped structure forms the internal end of the excretory duct between each chamber and the corresponding pole of accumulation for the secretory product of a glandular unit. This structure, composed of an epidermal syncytium lined by a sleeve of several aligned auxiliary cells, probably ensures a tight connection between the epidermal chamber and the syncytium. The dorsalmost glandular units (LDU) have no pores in the vicinity of their poles of accumulation. Instead they secrete through cuticular ducts delimited by aligned auxiliary cells. External pores for these canals have not yet been located. The secretions of lateral pores may be mucopolysaccharides that play an essential role in agglutination of food particles soon after capture, while the secretions of posterior pores may contain glycoproteins that mix with food only after ingestion into the buccal cavity and probably start the process of digestion.