Transverse Muscle Fibers Research Articles

Non-motile sensory cilia and neuromuscular junctions in a ctenophore independent effector organ

Non-motile cilia of the (9 + 2) pattern, having a specialized onion-like root structure, act as sensitive receptors of water displacement and thereby detect vibrations of small objects in the water nearby. These receptors are situated on sensory nerve cells on finger-like processes up to 1 cm long, on the surface of the ctenophoreLeucothea( =Eucharis) multicornis. In response to vibration a single finger can shoot outwards as an independent effector by an extension of its mesogloeal hydrostatic skeleton, acted on by circular and transverse muscle fibres which run mainly through the mesogloea. A copepod which may be hit is immobilized, presumably by a poisonous secretion. Retraction is brought about by longitudinal ectodermal fibres. The neuromuscular junctions have presynaptic vesicles of 30 to 50 nm diameter, a cleft of 15 to 20 nm wide, and occur at discrete points far from each other on the muscle cells, suggesting that excitation is propagated along the muscle fibres. No direct connexion has been traced between a sensory ciliated cell and a muscle fibre, but sensory cells connect with nerve net neurons and these form synapses with each other and with muscle cells. There are numerous nerve fibres in the epithelium and synapses with vesicles on one side of a cleft 12 to 15 nm wide occur between them sufficiently closely for spatial summation to be possible. The separate co-ordination of movements of extension, retraction and bending requires that certain types of sensory cells be connected specifically, if in directly, with muscle fibres of a particular directionality. This provides a primitive example of specificity of connexions which must imply two overlapping nerve nets.

Studies on the morphology ofCotugnia digonopora Pasquale 1890 (Cestoda: Davaineidae)

The musculature ofCotugnia digonopora is described in detail. In the scolex there are four muscle systems, very well developed and used for the working of the organs of attachment. The suckers do not show any special muscle systems and possess the typical cestode sucker musculature. The musculature of the strobila consists of transverse, dorsoventral and longitudinal muscles. The longitudinal muscles are present in bundles and are in two layers alternating with a double layer of transverse muscle fibres. These muscles are associated with their respective myoblasts, which are of three types. These myoblasts give rise to the muscles of the strobila. A discussion is provided about the origin of the various muscles in the cestodes.

Observations on the Structure of Hydra as seen with the Electron and Light Microscopes

ABSTRACT Sections of hydra studied with the electron microscope show various structures which have been identified by referring to control histological sections and to previous descriptions. Certain features have also been examined in frozen-dried sections under the light microscope. In the ectoderm, epithelio-muscular cells contain various organelles, and also smooth longitudinal muscle-fibres with which mitochondria may be associated. The so-called ‘supporting fibres’ appear to be thin bundles of muscle-fibres. Although points of contact exist between muscle-fibres, there appears to be no cytoplasmic continuity. The muscle-fibres insert on the mesogloea, and appear to be separated from it by two membranes, one belonging to the cytoplasm surrounding the musclefibre and the other to the mesogloea. The mesogloea is extracellular and quite distinct from the intracellular muscle-fibres. It appears granular and sometimes presents an indistinct fibrous background. In frozen-dried material the mesogloea stains blue with Mallory’s method, while the muscle-fibres stain red. Two main types of cells are found in the endoderm. Among these, some of the digestive cells contain transverse muscle-fibres, but they are less distinct than the longitudinal ectodermal fibres. Otherwise the digestive cells vary much in structure, but generally they contain vacuoles and their free surface is thrown into villi covered with small granules. The ‘foamy gland cells’ are filled with much larger vacuoles containing granular material. The vacuoles are discharged together with portions of cytoplasm, and at this stage lamellated double membranes and mitochrondria appear between the vacuoles. Both types of cell possess two flagella, which show a typical ultrastructure and are surrounded by a thick membrane. Various other cells of the ectoderm are distinguished by their characteristic appearance. Cnidoblasts, for instance, have been found to contain an extensive system of intercommunicating vacuoles bounded by membranes, and do not resemble the interstitial cells. In unexploded penetrant nematocysts the tube is preformed and the butt and stylets can also be seen. The special gland-cells of the pedal disk show large, electron-dense granules which are extruded from the cell without any cytoplasm. A relatively thick homogeneous layer on the surface of the pedal disk is distinguished by the electron microscope.