Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-g4j75 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-03T00:22:15.509Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fine structure of the nervous system and specialized nerve endings in the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

R. A. Wilson
R. A. Wilson
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The fine structure and organization of the nervous system of the miracidium is described. The central ganglion consists of a mass of nerve fibres with peripherally situated cell bodies. Tracts of fibres run outward from the central mass to the muscles of the body wall and to specialized endings. The individual fibres contain several types of inclusions and synapses are common in the neuropile.

Excluding the eyespots, four kinds of specialized nerve endings are described. Two of these types terminate at the body surface and bear ‘cilia’. The other two terminate internally, one type within the body wall and the other type laterally, slightly anterior to the central ganglion. It is suggested that the function of three of the types of ending might be sensory, detecting chemical and mechanical stimuli, and the direction of gravity. The function of the fourth type of ending is problematical but might be secretory.

I am most grateful to Dr A. Robards for use of electron microscope facilities and to Mrs J. Denison for technical assistance.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 60 , Issue 3 , June 1970 , pp. 399 - 410
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bodian, D. (1937). The staining of paraffin, sections of nervous tissue with activated protargol. The role of fixatives. Anatomical Record 69, 153–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dawes, B. (1960). A study of the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica and an account of the mode of penetration of the sporocyst into Limnaea truncatula. Libro Homenaje al Dr Eduardo Caballero y Caballero 95–111.Google Scholar
Dixon, K. E. & Mercer, E. H. (1965). The fine structure of the nervous system of the cercaria of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica L. Journal of Parasitology 51, 967–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Erasmus, D. A. (1967). The host-parasite interface of Cyathocotyle bushiensis Khan, 1962 (Trematoda: Strigeoidea). II. Electron microscope studies of the tegument. Journal of Parasitology 53, 703–14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Erasmus, D. A. (1969). Studies on the host-parasite interface of strigeoid trematodes. V. Regional differentiation of the adhesive organ of Apatemon gracilis minor Yamaguti, 1933. Parasitology 59, 245–56.Google Scholar
Gray, E. G. (1960). The fine structure of the insect ear. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 243, 75–94.Google Scholar
Gray, E. G. & Guillery, R. W. (1966). Synaptic morphology in the normal and degenerating nervous system. International Review of Cytology 19, 111–82.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Horridge, G. A. (1966). Some recently discovered underwater vibration receptors in invertebrates. In Some Contemporary Studies in Marine Science. Ed. by Barnes, H., London: Allen and Unwin Ltd.Google Scholar
Horridge, G. A. & Boulton, P. S. (1967). Prey detection by Chaetognatha via a vibration sense. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 168, 413–19.Google Scholar
Isseroff, H. & Cable, R. M. (1968). Fine structure of photoreceptors in larval trematodes. A comparative study. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie 86, 511–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kummel, G. (1960). Die Feinstruktur des Pigmentbecherocells bei Miracidien von Fasciola hepatica L. Zoologische Beitrage 5, 345–54.Google Scholar
Laverack, M. S. (1968). On superficial receptors. Symposia of the Zoological Society of London 23, 299–326.Google Scholar
Lie, K. J. (1966). Studies on Echinostomatidae (Trematoda) in Malaya. XIII. Integumentary papillae on six species of echinostome cercariae. Journal of Parasitology 52, 1041–48.Google Scholar
Lyons, K. M. (1969 a). Sense organs of monogenean parasites ending in a typical cilium. Parasitology 59, 611–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyons, K. M. (1969 b). Compound sensilla in monogenean skin parasites. Parasitology 59, 625–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mattes, O. (1949). Wirtsfindung, Invasionsvorgang und Wirtsspezifität beim Fasciola-Miracidium. Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde 14, 320–63.Google Scholar
Morris, G. P. & Threadgold, L. T. (1967). A presumed sensory structure associated with the tegument of Schistosoma mansoni. Journal of Parasitology 53, 537–39.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morseth, D. J. (1967). Observations on the fine structure of the nervous system of Echinococcus granulosus. Journal of Parasitology 53, 492–500.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Panitz, E. & Knapp, S. E. (1967). Acetylcholinesterase activity in Fasciola hepatica miracidia. Journal of Parasitology 53, 354.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pantin, C. F. A. (1964). Notes on microscopical technique for zoologists. University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Rohde, K. (1968). Lichtmikroskopische Untersuchungen an den Sinnesrezeptoren der Trematoden. Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde 30, 252–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slifer, E. H. (1967). The thin-walled olfactory sense organs on insect antennae. In Insects and Physiology. Ed. by Beament, J. W. L. and Treherne, J. E.. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd.Google Scholar
Smith, D. H. (1967). The organization of the insect neuropile. In Invertebrate Nervous Systems. Ed. by Wiersma, C. A. G.. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Thornhill, R. A. (1967). The ultrastructure of the olfactory epithelium of the lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis. Journal of Cell Science 2, 591–602.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thurm, U. (1968). Steps in the transducer process of mechanoreceptors. Symposia of the Zoological Society of London 23, 9–216.Google Scholar
Wilson, R. A. (1969 a). Fine structure of the tegument of the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica L. Journal of Parasitology 55, 124–33.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, R. A. (1969 b). Fine structure and organization of the musculature in the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica. Journal of Parasitology. 55, 1153–61.Google Scholar
Wilson, R. A. & Denison, J. (1970 a). Studies on the activity of the miracidium of the common liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 32, 301–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, R. A. & Denison, J. (1970 b). Short-chain fatty acids as stimulants of turning activity by the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology 32, 511–17.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yasuraoka, K. (1953). Ecology of the miracidium 1. On the perpendicular distribution and rheotaxis of the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica in water. Japanese Journal of Medical Science and Biology 6, 1–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed