THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE PROTONEPHRIDIAL SYSTEM OF GOTTE LARVA OF STYLOCHUS-MEDITERRANEUS (POLYCLADIDA, PLATYHELMINTHES)

The protonephridial system of Gotte's larva of Stylochus mediterraneus was studied by electron microscopy. There is one protonephridium on each side of the body, formed by one terminal and one canal cell. The terminal filtration apparatus is formed by a single cell (the terminal cell) with several globular processes, the largest of which includes the nucleus. Fingers of cytoplasm (leptotriches) from each process penetrate the lumen surrounding the bundle of cilia and fingers from adjacent processes interdigitate to form a pattern of convoluted slits which constitute the weir. The single canal cell is inserted internally to the terminal cell at the top of the weir and encloses the lumen without a junction. Septate junctions are present between the terminal and canal cells. The lumen of the canal cell is smooth-walled for most of its length and cilia arise and terminate at all levels of the terminal and canal cells. Posterior to the larval mouth opening, the canal cell crosses the epithelium and the lumen ramifies to form the excretory opening. The terminal apparatus closely resembles that found in the freshwater planarian Bdellocephala brunnea.