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Adhesive Organ (adhesive + organ)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Structure of adhesive organ of the mountain-stream catfish, Pseudocheneis sulcatus (Teleostei: Sisoridae)

ACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 4 2005
Debasish Das
Abstract The structure and ultrastructure of the adhesive organ (AO) in the catfish, Pseudocheneis sulcatus (Sisoridae), an inhabitant of the sub-Himalayan streams of India, is described. The surface of the AO is thrown into folds, the ridges of which bear curved spines. The AO epidermis consists of 10,12 tiers of filament-rich cells, of which the outer tier cells project spines lined with a thick plasma membrane and bear bundles of tonofilaments (TF). Their cytoplasm contains TF and large mucus-like granules, but no obvious organelles. A second tier of living cells with spines is present beneath the outer tier and seems to replace the latter when its spines are damaged or shed. The outer tier cells react positively with antibody to cytokeratin. Actin labelling is clearly absent from the outer tier, indicating that keratinization of the outer tier occurs in the absence of actin filaments. In the cells of the third to fifth tiers, the cytoplasm possesses abundant small mucous granules (0.1,0.3 µm), and fewer TF compared to the cytoplasm in the spines. The cells of the innermost tiers and the basal layer possess few TF bundles, but no mucous granules. The potential of AO filament cells to produce both mucous granules and keratin filaments is noteworthy. The observations provide evidence that specific regions of fish epidermis can actually undergo a true process of keratinization. [source]

Towards a phylogenetic classification of dendrocoelid freshwater planarians (Platyhelminthes): a morphological and eclectic approach

JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006
R. Sluys
Abstract We explore and review the taxonomic distribution of morphological features that may be used as supporting apomorphies for the monophyletic status of various taxa in future, more comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of the dendrocoelid freshwater planarians and their close relatives. Characters examined are: (i) musculature of the pharynx; (ii) anatomy of the eye; (iii) distribution of testis follicles along the longitudinal axis of the body; (iv) epidermis of the body wall; (v) musculature of the ventral body wall; (vi) presence or absence of a penis papilla; (vii) position of the mouth opening; and (viii) anterior adhesive organ. A phylogenetic hypothesis, in the form of a character state tree, is developed. This hypothesis suggests that the Kenkiidae should be resurrected as a separate family, sharing a sistergroup relationship with the Dendrocoelidae. This sistergroup relationship is supported by the shared presence of an apomorphic anterior adhesive organ. Although the shape of the anterior adhesive organ, both within and between kenkiids and dendrocoelids, may differ considerably between species, they are all constructed according to the same principles. The monophyly of the Kenkiidae is supported by the presence of an apomorphic thickening of the marginal zone of the epidermis and presumably also by the presence of prepharyngeal testes. Within the Kenkiidae, the genus Macrocotyla should be considered as a junior synonym of Kenkia, which is characterized by the presence of an apomorphic ,planariid pharynx-type 2'. The monophyly of the Dendrocoelidae is suggested by the presence of a dendrocoelid type of pharynx. It is shown that multicellular eye cups with numerous photoreceptor cells are not restricted to the Dugesiidae and the Terricola but are also characteristic for the Dendrocoelidae; the phylogenetic implications of this character state distribution are discussed. It is pointed out that in planarians there may be a relationship between: (i) body size, the size of an eye cup and the number of its constituent pigment cells; and (ii) the size of an eye cup and the number of photoreceptor cells that it contains. Some tentative phylogenetic groups are suggested on the basis of the following presumed apomorphic characters: presence of transverse fibres in the ventral subepidermal musculature, presence of an extra longitudinal muscle layer in the outer pharynx musculature, a mouth opening that has shifted anteriad. It is suggested that the presumed monophyly of the genus Bdellocephala is supported by the apomorphic absence of a penis papilla, combined with a penial lumen provided with many plicae. Zusammenfassung Wir untersuchen und begutachten die taxonomische Verbreitung morphologischer Merkmale, die man als Apomorphien für die Monophylie verschiedener Taxa in einer zukünftigen umfangreicheren phylogenetischen Analyse der Dendrocoeliden und ihrer nächsten Verwandten heranziehen könnte. Zu diesen untersuchten Merkmalen gehören die Pharynxmuskulatur, die Augen-Anatomie, die Anordnung der Hodenfollikel entlang der Längsachse des Körpers, die Epidermis, die Muskulatur der ventralen Körperwand, das Vorhandensein oder Fehlen einer Penispapille, die Lage der Mundöffnung sowie des vorderen Hartorgans. Eine phylogenetische Hypothese wurde als character state-Stammbaum entwickelt. Hierin wird vorgeschlagen, die Kenkiidae wieder als eigenständige Familie und als Schwestergruppe der Dendrocoelidae zu betrachten. Dieses Schwestergruppen-Verhältnis wird durch den gemeinsamen Besitz eines apomorphen vorderen Haftorgans gestützt. Obwohl sich die Form dieses Organs sowohl innerhalb als auch zwischen Kenkiiden und Dendrocoeliden beträchtlich zwischen den Arten unterscheiden kann, ist es grundsätzlich gleich aufgebaut. Die Monophylie der Kenkiidae wird durch eine als apomorph betrachtete Verdickung des Epidermisrandes und durch das Auftreten praepharyngealer Hoden gestützt. Innerhalb der Kenkiidae sollte die Gattung Macrocotyla als Juniorsynonym von Kenkia angesehen werden, die durch den apomorphen Planarien-Pharynx-Typ 2 charakterisiert ist. Als Beleg für die Monophylie der Dendrocoelidae wird der Dendrocoeliden-Pharynx-Typ vorgeschlagen. Es wird gezeigt, dass vielzellige Augenbecher mit zahlreichen Photorezeptorzellen nicht auf die Dugesiidae und die Terricola beschränkt, sondern auch für die Dendrocoelidae charakteristisch sind; die phylogenetische Bedeutung dieser Merkmalsverteilung wird diskutiert. Es wird hervorgehoben, dass es in den Planarien wahrscheinlich eine Beziehung zwischen (i) Körpergröße, Größe der Augenbecher und Zahl der Photorezeptorzellen ebenso wie (ii) der Größe eines Augenbechers und der Zahl seiner Photorezeptorzellen gibt. Versuchsweise werden einige phylogenetische Gruppierungen auf der Basis der folgenden vermutlich apomorphen Merkmale vorgeschlagen: Vorhandensein transversaler Fasern in der ventralen subepidermalen Muskulatur, Auftreten einer zusätzlichen Längsmuskelschicht in der äußeren Pharynxmuskulatur und eine nach vorn verschobene Mundöffnung. Es wird weiterhin vorgeschlagen, die vermutete Monophylie der Gattung Bdellocephala durch das Fehlen einer Penispapille als Autapomorphie zu stützen, zusammen mit dem Merkmal eines durch viele Falten gekennzeichneten Penislumens. [source]

Macrodasyida (Gastrotricha): a cladistic analysis of morphology

INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2001
Rick Hochberg
Abstract. A cladistic analysis based on 33 morphological characters was performed for the 31 genera currently assigned to the order Macrodasyida (Gastrotricha). Outgroup analysis indicated that the order is monophyletic and that it is defined by the structure of the pharynx and the complex distribution of duo-gland adhesive organs. Of the 6 currently recognized families in Macrodasyida, our analysis confirmed that 4 families are monophyletic: Dactylopodolidae, Macrodasyidae, Thaumastodermatidae and Turbanellidae. Dactylopodolidae was further confirmed as the most basal family within the order based on the retention of several plesiomorphies. The other three families have well-defined autapomorphies but will require further investigation to increase inter- and intrafamilial phylogenetic resolution. Planodasyidae appeared to be a paraphyletic taxon with no obvious autapomorphies; genera clustered among members of a polyphyletic family, Lepidodasyidae. We recommend that future research on macrodasyidan phylogeny focus on issues of comparative morphology and ultrastructure in lesser-known taxa such as the Dactylopodolidae, and on the taxa Lepidodasyidae and Planodasyidae. [source]