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Ultrastructure of the branchial wall of a lower chordate: The ascidian Ciona intestinalis
Author(s) -
Pestarino Mario,
FialaMedioni A.,
Ravera F.
Publication year - 1988
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.1051970303
Subject(s) - ciona intestinalis , biology , ultrastructure , apocrine , epithelium , chordate , anatomy , secretion , phagocytosis , microbiology and biotechnology , vertebrate , endocrinology , gene , biochemistry , genetics
Transmission electron micrographs show the branchial epithelium of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis to be composed of three kinds of cells: ciliated, parietal, and “dark.” Absorptive processes of phagocytosis appear in ciliated and parietal cells; moreover, apocrine‐like secretion is evident exclusively in the parietal cells. Finally, the occurrence of secretory cells in the branchial epithelium suggests a digestive role of the ascidian branchial sac.