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The fine structure of the lateral‐line organs of larval Ichthyophis (Amphibia: Gymnophiona)
Author(s) -
Wahnschaffe Ulrich,
Fritzsch Bernd,
Himstedt Werner
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1051860312
Subject(s) - electroreception , anatomy , biology , sensory system , afferent , free nerve ending , lateral line , sensory receptor , neuroscience , biochemistry , zebrafish , gene
Light and electron microscopic observations of the lateral‐line organs of larval Ichthyophis kohtaoensis confirmed earlier reports of the occurrence of two different types of lateral‐line organs. One type, the ampullary organ, possesses 15–26 egg‐shaped sensory cells. Each sensory cell extends a single kinocilium surrounded by a few microvilli into the ampullary lumen. This is in contrast to the ampullary organs of urodele amphibians that contain only microvilli. The second type of organ, the ordinary neuromast, has 15–24 pear‐shaped sensory cells arranged in two to three rows. Each sensory cell shows a kinocilium that is asymmetrically placed with respect to both a basal plate and approximately 60 stereovilli. The sensory cells of ampullary organs are always separated by supporting cells; those of neuromasts are occasionally in contact with one another. Numerous (neuromasts) or few (ampullary organs) mantle cells separate the organs from the epidermal cells. Only afferent synapses are found in the ampullary organs whereas vesicle‐filled fibers together with afferent nerve terminals are found in neuromasts. Both organs contain similarly sized presynaptic spheres adjacent to the afferent fibers. It is suggested that the neuromasts have a mechanoreceptive function, whereas the ampullary organs have an electroreceptive one.