Summary
The structure and functional morphology of lateral organs and sperm ducts, as well as the mechanisms of spermatophore formation and transfer, are investigated by means of light and electron microscopy in the genusProtodrilus. The sperm ducts are simple, ciliated, intercellular gonoducts with a funnel section surrounded by a thin muscle layer and a tube section opening externally in the anterior region of the lateral organs. No glands are present in the sperm ducts. The lateral organs are formed by long epidermal invaginations enclosing an elongate lumen into which numerous cilia project and a large number of glands open. Five to ten different gland types with strikingly distinctive secretory granules are found in the different species. In addition, special supporting cells, the so-called “sponge cells”, sensory cells and an underlying nervous tissue are developed in the lateral organs. It is stated that apart from some similarities to the ventral atrium ofNerilla antennata no corresponding organs are known within the Annelida. It is argued that inProtodrilus the spermatophores are formed by the lateral organs as there are a high number of glands opening into the lumen of the organ. The possible origin and genesis of the male gonoducts as well as the mode of spermatophore transfer inProtodrilus is discussed.
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Abbreviations
- bl :
-
basal lamina
- cc :
-
coelomic cell
- ci :
-
ciliated cell
- cir :
-
ciliary root
- cr :
-
ciliary ring
- cu :
-
cuticle
- cv bs :
-
contractile ventral blood sinus
- d :
-
dissepiment/septum
- dbs :
-
dorsal blood sinus
- es :
-
euspermatozoa
- f :
-
funnel
- fi :
-
filament
- g :
-
gut
- glo :
-
gland openings
- lgl :
-
lateral organ gland
- lm :
-
longitudinal muscle
- lo :
-
lateral organ
- lu :
-
lumen
- mi :
-
mitochondrion
- mt :
-
microtubules
- mu :
-
muscle
- mv :
-
microvilli
- mvc :
-
microvillar crown
- n :
-
nucleus
- ne :
-
nervous tissue
- o :
-
opening
- ps :
-
paraspermatozoa
- rer :
-
rough endoplasmatic reticulum
- s :
-
spermatozoa
- sc :
-
sponge cell
- sg :
-
salivary gland
- spd :
-
sperm duct
- spdo :
-
sperm duct opening
- t :
-
tube
- tm :
-
transverse muscle
- vc :
-
ventral ciliary band
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von Nordheim, H. Ultrastructure and functional morphology of male genital organs and spermatophore formation inProtodrilus (Polychaeta, Annelida). Zoomorphology 111, 81–94 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01632874
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01632874