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Ultrastructural observations on feeding appendages and gills ofAlvinella pompejana (Annelida, Polychaeta)

Helgoländer Meeresuntersuchungen volume 40, pages 309–319 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

The feeding appendages ofAlvinella pompejana obtained from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent environment are described. They are characterized by a ciliated groove, the cells of which have a very distinctive ultrastructure, by groups of bipolar receptor cells and by several kinds of gland cells. Among these, one cell type is in an upside down position suggesting a function completely different from other epidermal secretory cells. The gills differ considerably from the feeding appendages on the basis of their ultrastructure. Their epidermis is very irregular in height; basal infoldings give the blood access to a space coming very near to the external medium. The blood vascular system is open. On the other hand, the gills ofAmphicteis gunneri are not effective sites of gas exchange, since their columnar epithelium is underlain with muscle cells. The cells composing the feeding appendages and gills ofAlvinella pompejana are characterized by ultrastructurally very different mitochondria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Institut I (Morphologie/Ökologie), Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, D-6900, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany

    V. Storch

  2. Centre de Biologie Cellulaire, 67, rue Maurice Günsbourg, F-94200, Ivry sur Seine, France

    F. Gaill

Authors
  1. V. Storch
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  2. F. Gaill
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Storch, V., Gaill, F. Ultrastructural observations on feeding appendages and gills ofAlvinella pompejana (Annelida, Polychaeta). Helgolander Meeresunters 40, 309–319 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01983738

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Helgoland Marine Research

ISSN: 1438-3888

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