THE CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS-SYSTEM OF ACOELA (PLATHELMINTHES) - AN ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY

The fine structure of the nerve cells and the neuropile in the brain of acoels and the peripheral nervous system and the synapses have been studied. On the basis of the vesicle content, four nerve cell types are distinguished. The presumptive glial cell is also visualized. The synapses appear to be of the following four types: asymmetrical, ribbon, symmetrical and electrical. The peripheral nervous system consists of a subepithelial and a submuscular plexus; they present asymmetrical and symmetrical synapses. In the light of these results, the nervous system of acoels should no longer be considered as primitive.