Premium
Developmental Changes and Lytic Activity in Aminergic Neurons of Microstomum lineare (Turbellaria)
Author(s) -
Reuter Maria
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
acta zoologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.414
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1463-6395
pISSN - 0001-7272
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6395.1983.tb00786.x
Subject(s) - biology , zooid , vacuole , ultrastructure , microbiology and biotechnology , acid phosphatase , cytoplasm , lytic cycle , golgi apparatus , turbellaria , organelle , cytochemistry , lysosome , anatomy , biochemistry , enzyme , immunology , virus , endoplasmic reticulum
The ultrastructure of and the presence of lytic activity in aminergic neurons from zooids representing different developmental stages were compared. The observations indicate clear differences between neurons of developing and mature zooids, and show that lytic activity occurs in the neurons of this turbellarian species. The differences in ultrastructure, size and nucleoplasms (NP) index motivate a division of the aminergic neurons of the zooids into three categories: (1) small aminergic neurons (SN) which occur in developing zooids; (2) flocculent aminergic neurons (FN) characterized by a network of flocculent splittings in the cytoplasm; (3) vacuolated aminergic neurons (VN) with large membrane limited vacuoles occupying a large part of the perikaryon. Slight acid phosphatase (AcPase) activity occurs in GERL of SN. An increased amount of AcPase reaction products in the Golgi apparatus, primary lysosomes and autophagosomes are observed in FN. Typical for VN are prominent lead deposits in the large vacuoles. The development and functional significance of the large vacuole are discussed.