The distribution of oxidizable mucosubstances and polysaccharides in the planarian Polycelis tenuis Iijima

Abstract

A chromic acid oxidation-silver technique was used to localize polysaccharide material in Polycelis tenuis at the electron microscope level. In the epithelium, staining was observed within apical vacuoles and on the free surfaces of the cells. A similar staining was observed in relation to the glycocalyx of the pharyngeal epithelia and that of the flame cells. Silver was deposited in the basement membrane. In the parenchyma, the major components giving a positive reaction were the cyanophil and mucous gland cells. Particularly strong silver staining (confirmed by X-ray microanalysis) was observed in the granules and Golgi apparatus of the cyanophil cells. IDPase activity was also found in relation to the Golgi apparatus and its secretory products. The overall distribution of mucopolysaccharide material was confirmed with the PAS and Alcian blue techniques. The fine structural localization of the Alcian blue was also determined using electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis.