Identification of respiratory and ion-transporting epithelia in the phyllosoma larvae of the slipper lobster Scyllarus arctus.
Phyllosoma larvae of the Palinura lack a branchial cavity and gills. In the phyllosoma, gas and ion exchanges that occur at the level of the gill in the adult must occur in other parts of the body or through the entire body. The objective of this study was to localize epithelia bordering the body of the phyllosoma larvae that had features comparable to those of the gill epithelia of adult decapods. The first phyllosoma instar of the small Mediterranean slipper lobster Scyllarus arctus was studied. First, we used a silver nitrate staining method to identify parts of the body with high ionic permeability. Confocal laser scanning microscopy with a fluorescent vital stain for mitochondria, dimethylaminostyrylmethylpyridiniumiodine (DASPMI), was then used to localize cells with a high density of mitochondria. Next, an ultrastructural study of selected epithelia was carried out. A thick (5 microns) mitochondria-rich epithelium covers the ventral side of the cephalic shield; its cells are characterized by the presence of well-developed apical infoldings adjacent to the cuticle. This part of the body has a high ionic permeability as indicated by a positive silver nitrate staining. The ventral mitochondria-rich epithelium might be involved in active ion transport. The rest of the body, particularly the dorsal side of the shield and the appendages, shows a lower ionic permeability (no positive silver nitrate staining) and is limited by a thin (1 micron) epithelium with low numbers of mitochondria. This epithelium exhibits features of a typical respiratory epithelium.
Haond
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C
Department of Animal Physiology, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Charmantier
G
G
Flik
G
G
Bonga
S E
SE
D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D005880:Gills / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008121:Nephropidae / Q000254:growth & development*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology*; D016622:Silver Staining
D007473:Ion Channels