Histological structure of the posterior salivary glands in the blue ringed octopus Hapalochlaena maculosa Hoyle
1978; Elsevier BV; Volume: 16; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0041-0101(78)90061-2
ISSN1879-3150
Autores Tópico(s)Chemical synthesis and alkaloids
ResumoThe histology of the posterior salivary glands in adults of the blue ringed octopus Hapalochlaena maculosa is described and compared with the glands in 5 day, 15 day and 42 day old juvenile H. maculosa. A brief comparison is also made to the posterior salivary glands in Octopus australis. In H. maculosa the salivary glands have a compound tubuloacinar exocrine structure while in O. australis the glands are a mixture of tubular and tubuloacinar elements. On the basis of the histological structure it is suggested that transport of "saliva" is accomplished by muscular contractions of the gland rather than by cilial action as is common in other molluscs. The glands are located in the intestinal blood space. The possible evolutionary significance of variation in gland structure shown by octopuses is discussed.
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