Protistology 6 (4) 271–279 (2010/11) |
The fine structure of the tropho-tomont of the parasitic apostome Chromidina (Ciliophora, Apostomatida) |
Stephen C. Landers Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Troy University, USA Summary Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of Chromidina’s tropho-tomont stage have revealed new information about this parasitic ciliate of cephalopods. The kineties are uniformly spaced and have a fold of the pellicle (kinetal fold) on the right side of the ciliary row. Kinetodesmal (kd) fibers are well developed along the trunk of the cell and are enlarged at the anterior attachment bulb, extending into the kinetal folds. At the junctions of daughter cells the kd fibers become disorganized and extend randomly into the junctional cytoplasm. The macronuclear (MA) reticulum is connected by microtubular tracts within thin extensions of the MA double membrane. The cytoplasm is filled with various vacuoles and enclosures, some of which are associated with microtubular tracts similar to those associated with the outer pellicle. No mouth or endocytic apparatus was detected except for a pore along the trunk. Key words: apostome, ciliate, Illex coindetti, symbiosis, ultrastructure Address for correspondence: Stephen C. Landers. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences. 210A MSCX. Troy University, Troy, AL 36082 USA; e-mail: slanders@troy.edu |
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