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The cement apparatus of larval and adult Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala: Palaeacanthocephala)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 1998

B. S. DEZFULI ,
S. ONESTINI ,
M. CARCUPINO  and
C. MISCHIATI
B. S. DEZFULI
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Ferrara, 46 Via L. Borsari, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
S. ONESTINI
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Ferrara, 46 Via L. Borsari, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
M. CARCUPINO
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
C. MISCHIATI
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Ferrara, 46 Via L. Borsari, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
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Abstract

Light and electron microscopy were used to study the ultrastructure of the cement apparatus, namely cement glands and cement ducts of mature specimens of the acanthocephalan parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis Müller, 1776, recovered from the digestive tracts of fish Leuciscus cephalus Risso, 1826. In addition, the cement glands of immature P. laevis found within the body cavity of the fish Alburnus alburnus alborella De Filippi, 1844 were examined. In a mature male of P. laevis the 6 cement glands are rounded to oval in shape and each of them has an outer cytoplasmic layer containing nuclei and surrounding a space for storage of the cement material within the gland. The nuclei have an irregular outline and the cytoplasm of the cells contains round, membrane-bound secretory granules approximately 1 μm in diameter. Nuclei surrounded by secretory granules were present inside the gland lumen. Within the gland ducts of mature males, granules were present within the wall thickness and, inside the luminal area, mitochondria were encountered. In contrast, within the cement glands of immature P. laevis there were no secretory granules and the chromatin of the nuclei appeared condensed. The nature of the secretory product of the cement glands was investigated with histological and electrophoretic methods. A protein with molecular weight of 23 kDa was recorded as a major component of cement.

Keywords

acanthocephalancement apparatusfine structuresecretory product
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 116 , Issue 5 , May 1998 , pp. 437 - 447
Copyright
1998 Cambridge University Press

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