Ultrastructure of the Epidermis and Protonephridium of an Undescribed Species of Luridae (Platyhelminthes, Rhabdocoela)

Abstract

The epidermis of an undescribed species of Luridae possesses many large cavities filled with a medium-dense material, intraepidermal nuclei, glandular ducts, cilia with vertical and horizontal rootlets, surface microvilli, and a thick basal lamina. Cilia have narrow tips, the peripheral axonemal doublets lose one of the microtubules and, finally, whole doublets are lost near the tip. Flame bulbs have a single row of longitudinal ribs containing microtubules and connected by a 'membrane' apparently of extracellular matrix; cilia of flame bulbs possess cross-striated rootlets, and capillary walls are smooth. The nucleus of the protonephridium was observed near the tip of the flame bulb, along the capillary. It is not clear whether one perikaryon forms more than one flame bulb. The structure of the epidermal ciliary rootlets, the presence of intraepidermal nuclei, and flame bulbs composed of a single row of longitudinal ribs containing microtubules formed by a single cell are typical rhabdocoel characteristics.