Typology of ephemerid chloride cells.

Abstract

The tracheal gills of 16 species of mayfly larvae were studied with regard to the chloride cells. The ephemerid chloride cells occur as two main types: single cells and cell complexes. The single chloride cells are characterized by deep tubular or slit-like infoldings of the apical cell membrane, whereas the chloride cell complexes show numerous intercellular channels resulting from cellular interdigitation at the basolateral side. According to the structural organization of the apices, the ephemerid chloride cells may be classified into caviform, coniform, bulbiform and filiform types. In the caviform type (single chloride cell), the apex retracts to form an apical cavity similar to teleost chloride cells. In the other types (chloride cell complexes), there is a progressive extension of the central cell apex into or beyond the cuticle in the form of cones, bulbs or filaments. The common feature of all types is the differentiation of the cuticle into thin porous plates or envelopes covering or surrounding the various forms of apices. Histochemical precipitation of sodium and chloride in the apical region suggests that all types have basically the same function of salt absorption. The population of the various types differs with the species. However, there seem to be some taxonomic regularities with respect to the families. No relation was found between the types of chloride cells and habitat of the species.