Ultrastructure of the protonephridial system of Polystomoides malayi Rohde and P. renschi Rohde (Monogenea: Polystomatidae)

Abstract

Rohde K. 1973. Ultrastructure of the protonephridial system of Polystomoides malayi Rohde and P. renschi Rohde (Monogenea : Polystomatidae). International Journal for Parasitology 3: 329–333. Polystomoides malayi and P. renschi have three types of protonephridial flames. The first type is a typical flame cell with internal and external ribs connected by a weir membrane without nephrostomes, and with internal and external leptotriches. The second type is a flame cell complex consisting of at least two flames reaching into a common cavity. The third type is a non-terminal (= lateral) flame in the protonephridial ducts, consisting of loosely arranged cilia many of which have lateral tube-like extensions and whose tips have irregularly arranged filaments gradually decreasing in number. The number of cilia in all types of flames varies. The smallest capillaries are strongly convoluted and have a smooth or slightly reticulated surface, the larger ducts have strongly reticulated walls and single cilia may be found in the cavities of the reticulum.