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The ultrastructure of the posterior gut and caecum inAlona affinis (Crustacea, Cladocera)

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Summary

The posterior midgut, the anterior hindgut and the caecum ofAlona affinis were studied by transmission electron microscopy. The caecum arises from the junction of the entodermal midgut and the ectodermal hindgut. It consists of gastrodermis and epidermis. Because of the ultrastructural similarity of the caecum with the posterior midgut and the anterior hindgut it is concluded that the caecum is a functional supplement of the latter gut parts. But the functional significance of these gut parts is poorly understood. Some ultrastructural features suggest that they contribute in excretion and salt regulation.

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Abbreviations

Au :

autolysosome

Ba :

bacteria

Bl :

basal lamina

Ca :

canaliculi

Cae :

caecum

Crc :

crypt cell

Cu :

cuticle

Ec :

epicuticle

Ep :

epidermis

G :

Golgi complex

Hae :

hemolymph

Hc :

head cell

La :

basal labyrinth

Lu :

gut lumen

lMv :

long microvilli

Mg :

midgut

Mi :

mitochondria

mC :

mitochondria rich cell

nBc :

new border cell

Nc :

neck cell

Nu :

nucleus

oBc :

old border cell

Pc :

procuticle

pMe :

peritrophic membrane

pMg :

posterior midgut

Rm :

ring muscle

S :

secretion (? uncertain)

sMv :

short microvilli

vC :

vacuolated cell

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  1. Lehrstuhl für Spezielle Zoologie, Zoologisches Institut der Universität, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, W-7400, Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany

    Hans Günzl

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  1. Hans Günzl
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Günzl, H. The ultrastructure of the posterior gut and caecum inAlona affinis (Crustacea, Cladocera). Zoomorphology 110, 139–144 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01632870

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01632870

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