Gross anatomy of the muscle system of Eudiplozoon nipponicum as visualised by confocal microscopy
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2005 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | 5th Internationl symposium on Monogenea Programme and Abstracts |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | monogenea ; confocal microscopy |
| Description | Diplozoidae monogeneans are unique fish parasites, with two individuals fused in so-called permanent copula. Using FITC and TRITC-conjugated phalloidin as a specific probe for F-actin, applied to whole-mount preparations of E. nipponicum, the present work reports on the organization of the major muscular structures in this gill parasite. The body wall musculature is well-developed and highly organized, with lattice-like outer circular, intermediate longitudinal and inner diagonal muscle fibres. The buccal suckers, glandulo-muscular organs and the pharynx are dominant muscle structures of the parasites forebody. The buccal suckers are primarily formed by dense radial muscle fibres. The muscles of the pair glandulo-muscular organs are arranged basket-like. Their probable function is to act as secretory reservoirs. Using phalloidin staining only the pharynx was visualised from the alimentary tract. The walls of reproductive organs have well-developed, densely assorted circular and longitudinal muscle fibres. Diagonal fibres are absent. In the hindbody, two haptors, each with four pairs of clamps which enable the worm to secure its attachment to fish gills. Every clamp has groups of the muscle bundles of muscles, which ensure a sufficient mobility of the clamps skeletal jaws. This work was supported by FRVS (project # 311208) and MSMT (project # 0021622416). |
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