Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T21:55:14.451Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fasciola hepatica: a transmission and scanning electron microscopical study of the apical surface of the gastrodermal cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

L. T. Threadgold
L. T. Threadgold
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The Queen's University, Belfast BT7 1NN
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The ultrastructure of the apical surface of the gastrodermal cells of Fasciola hepatica has been investigated by transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface is composed of triangular or rhomboidal lamellae which may be subdivided at their margins. The lamellae may have a smooth or wrinkled surface and apical microvilli of varied length and number. Spherical bodies may be attached to the sides or tips of the lamellae.

The lamellae of individual cells are grouped to form either a series of overlapping, concentrically arranged leaflets or a series of sinuous lamellae running parallel with the cell's long axis. Lamellae may also divide, anastomose, or cross from one cell to an adjacent cell.

The lamellae have an internal skeleton consisting of laterally orientated ‘fibres’ which are more or less evenly spaced and parallel with the cell's apical plasma membrane. There is some evidence that the ‘fibres’ are composed of a number of very small tubules in a dense matrix. The ‘fibres’ are connected to the plasma membrane and to each other by dense amorphous material.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 76 , Issue 1 , February 1978 , pp. 85 - 90
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bogitsh, B. J. (1972). Cytochemical and biochemical observations on the digestive tracts of digenetic trematodes. Experimental Parasitology 32, 244–60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davis, D. A. & Bogitsh, B. J. (1971). Gorgoderina attenuata: cytochemical and biochemical observations on the digestive tracts of digenetic trematodes. Experimental Parasitology 29, 320–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davis, D. A., Bogitsh, B. J. & Nunnally, D. A. (1968). Cytochemical and biochemical observations on the digestive tracts of digenetic trematodes. I. Ultrastructure of Haematoloechus medioplexus gut. Experimental Parasitology 22, 98–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dawes, B. (1962). A histological study of the caecal epithelium of Fasciola hepatica L. Parasitology 52, 483–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dike, S. C. (1967). Ultrastructure of the ceca of the digenetic trematodes Gorgoderina amplicava and Haematoloechus mediplexus. Journal of Parasitology 53, 1173–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dike, S. C. (1969). Acid phosphatase activity and ferritin incorporation in the ceca of digenetic trematodes. Journal of Parasitology 55, 111–23CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gresson, R. A. R. & Threadgold, L. T. (1959). Light and electron microscopic studies of the epithelial cells of the gut of Faciola hepatica L. Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology 6, 157–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morris, G. P. (1968). Fine structure of the gut epithelium of Schistosoma mansoni. Experientia 24, 480–2.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morris, G. P. (1973). The fine structure of the caecal epithelium of Megalodiscus temperatus. Canadian Journal of Zoology 51, 457–60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shannon, W. A. & Bogitsh, B. J. (1969). Cytochemical and biochemical observations of the digestive tracts of digenetic trematodes. V. Ultrastructure of schistosomatium douthitti gut. Experimental Parasitology 26, 344–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robinson, G. (1971). Experimental studies on the common liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica L. Ph.D thesis. The Queen's University of Belfast.Google Scholar
Robinson, G. & Threadgold, L. T. (1975). Electron microscope studies of Fasciola hepatica. XII. The fine structure of the gastrodermis. Experimental Parasitology 37, 20–36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tay, J. & Biagi, F. (1968). Ultrastructura de Fasciola hepatica I. Cuticula, glandulas vitellogenas, ciegos intestinales y celulasen flama. La Prensa Medica Mexicana 33, 397–405.Google Scholar
Threadgold, L. T. (1976). The Ultrastructure of the Animal Cell. Oxford: Pergamon Press Ltd.Google Scholar