The ultrastructure of the midgut and the formation of peritrophic membranes in a harvestman, Phalangium opilio (Chelicerata Phalangida)

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the midgut epithelium of Phalangium opilio was examined. In the anterior part of the midgut the epithelium consists of three different types of cells, called resorption, digestion, and excretion cells according to their presumed functions. Excretion cells may represent old digestion cells. The relation between resorption and digestion cells needs further investigation. The epithelium of the posterior part of the midgut consists of two types, transport and secretion cells, which seem to serve mainly for the resorption of water and the secretion of peritrophic membranes, respectively. Peritrophic membranes are secreted by the anterior midgut epithelium mainly in a period between 2 and 4 h after feeding. Chitin or chitin precursors could be localized in vesicles and in the brush border of midgut cells, and in the peritrophic membranes, using colloidal gold labelled with wheat germ agglutinin. Two different textures of chitin-containing microfibrils were found in the peritrophic membranes, either a random or a hexagonal texture. The latter results if the microfibrils polymerize between the basal parts of the microvilli. Irregularities of the hexagonal texture can be correlated with an irregular pattern of the microvilli. In the posterior midgut peritrophic membranes with a random texture, chitin-containing microfibrils are continuously secreted in the form of patches.