A comparative study of the ultrastructure of intestine in Protostrongylus commutatus and Protostrongylus rufescens (Protostrongylidae: Nematoda).
A comparison of the ultrastructure of intestinal cells of two taxonomically very close nematode species, Protostrongylus commutatus and Protostrongylus rufescens, revealed many interesting facts. The concentration of mitochondria in the basal part of intestinal cells, which is conspicuous particularly in P. rufescens, indicates that the nutrients penetrate also through the cuticle. An enormous occurrence of granular endoplasmic reticulum in the intestinal cells of P. commutatus shows an excessive protein synthesis. It may be supposed that the proteins will be used mainly for the construction of sex products, which are extremely abundant in P. commutatus. This phenomenon will be related with the conditions of egg development and localization of the worm in the vicinity of trachea bifurcation in the lungs of hare.
D000818:Animals; D007422:Intestines / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013320:Strongyloidea / Q000648:ultrastructure*