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Ultrastructural investigation of coelomocytes in representatives of Naidinae and Rhyacodrilinae (Annelida, Clitellata, Tubificidae)
Author(s) -
Envall Ida,
Erséus, Christer,
Gustavsson Lena M.
Publication year - 2008
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.10652
Subject(s) - clitellata , ultrastructure , biology , endoplasmic reticulum , anatomy , oligochaeta (plant) , appendage , zoology , microbiology and biotechnology
Various types of free‐floating cells are found in the coelomic fluid of representatives of several annelid groups. The ultrastructure of these “coelomocytes,” however, has been studied to a limited degree. In this study, we used a transmission electron microscope to investigate the coelomocytes in specimens of five species of Naidinae and three species of Rhyacodrilinae (all oligochaetous clitellates within the family Tubificidae). These were compared with each other and with previously described coelomocytes of representatives of other oligochaete taxa. Only one distinguishable coelomocyte type was found in the studied specimens: a round to oblong cell without pseudopodia or other appendages, primarily containing membrane‐bound granules of varying electron density, a prominent network of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and free ribosomes. This type differs to a great extent from most of the previously described coelomocytes, but shows similarities to certain types found in members of Enchytraeidae and Megascolecidae. Although we noticed some variation, we did not find any ultrastructural characters in these cells obviously useful for phylogenetic studies within Tubificidae. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.