Nemertoderma cf. westbladi
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-015-0248-0 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/30613D4C-DC0A-FFD9-FCCC-EF03FAA86309 |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Nemertoderma cf. westbladi |
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Nemertoderma cf. westbladi View in CoL
Nervous system and gland innervation
The NS of N. cf. westbladi is entirely basiepidermal. It was studied by anti-alpha-tubulin immunostaining ( Figs. 7a, c, d View Fig and 8a, b, e View Fig ) and anti-tyrosinated-tubulin immunostaining ( Figs. 7b View Fig and 8c, d View Fig ).
Anti-alpha-tubulin immunostaining readily reveals general morphology as it not only stains nerve cells but also cilia, sperm ( Fig. 7a View Fig ), the male copulatory organ ( Fig. 7a View Fig ) and all glands with gland necks lined by microtubules ( Fig. 8 View Fig ).
At the anterior end of the animal, there is a nerve ring surrounding a bilithophorous statocyst. From this ring, several caudal neurite bundles originate ( Fig. 7a, b View Fig ) but only the two ventral ones reach the posterior end of the animal ( Fig. 7c, d View Fig ). At the site of origin of the ventral neurite bundles, the brain ring is noticeably thickened, forming a local neuropile ( Fig. 7c View Fig ). Anterior to the ring, there is an aggregation of sensillae innervated from the brain ring ( Fig. 7b View Fig ). Numerous sensory fibres start from the ventral neurite bundles outwardly, innervating the thick epidermis. Other fibres innervate the ventral side of the body ( Fig. 7d View Fig ).
One of the specimens stained by anti-tyrosinated-tubulin displayed a mouth opening ( Fig. 7b View Fig ). It serves as a focal point for numerous nerve fibres coming from all directions but mainly from the ventral neurite bundles ( Fig. 7b View Fig ).
bundle starting from the ring-shaped brain. Note numerous nerve fibres, going outwards into the epidermal layer. d Alpha-tubulinimmunoreactivity in the posterior end of the animal, showing joining together of the two ventral neurite bundles and the extensive innervation of the ventral side of the animal. Scale bars 50 μm. br brain ring, eg egg, m mouth, ma male antrum, nf nerve fibres, s sensory cells, sp sperms, sv seminal vesicle, vn ventral neurite bundles
In some specimens stained for longer time (about 72 h), epidermal glands are revealed and it is possible to follow their innervation ( Fig. 8a View Fig ). Most of them are innervated by nerve fibres coming from the ventral neurite bundles ( Fig. 8a View Fig ). Glands of the anterior end of the body are innervated directly from the brain ring ( Fig. 8d View Fig ). It is possible to follow the nerve fibre making contact with the membrane of the gland cell ( Fig. 8b View Fig ).
The most peculiar glands observed in Nemertoderma cf. are undoubtedly the bottle-shaped ones ( Fig. 8c View Fig ), which are strongly tubulin IR probably due to the lining of microtubules. A row of such glands can be observed along the ventral neurite bundles ( Fig. 8c View Fig ). The presence of bottle glands is characteristic for the family Nemertodermatidae ( Sterrer 1998) . In small male mature specimens, a distinct stripe of tightly packed gland openings was observed running across the anterior end of the animal ( Fig. 8e–g View Fig ).
directly from the brain. Note tubulin IR gland openings at the body surface. e Alpha-tubulin IR pattern. Note a stripe of unstained gland neck openings across the anterior end of the body. f Differential contrast image of the stripe of gland neck openings. g Confocal image of the same stripe. Note gland necks passing between epidermal cells. Scale bars 25 μm. br brain ring, gl gland, gs glandular stripe, ma male antrum, nf nerve fibres, sp sperms, vn ventral neurite bundles
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