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Ultrastructure of the epidermis in the ice worm, Mesenchytraeus solifugus

1971; Wiley; Volume: 135; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/jmor.1051350105

1097-4687

Daniel Goodman, Wayne B. Parrish,

Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior

Abstract The ice worm is adapted for life at O°C. A survey of the ultrastructure of the cuticle, epidermal epithelium and basement membrane does not reveal any features which self‐evidently correlate with such metabolic specialization; instead, these tissues are much like those of the earthworm and some freshwater oligochaetes. The cuticular fibers are unstriated. Epithelial cells aresuggested as the source of cuticular material. Epithelial microvilli penetrate the cuticle. There is an array of membrane bound bodies on the cuticle surface. The basement membrane fibers are transversely striated and are oriented in crossed lamellae. The junctional complex is represented by azonula adhaerens and septate desmosome.