The fine structure of the brain of Gastrocotyle trachuri (Monogena: Platyhelminthes)

Abstract

The fine structure of the brain of the monogenean Gastrocotyle trachuri (Platyhelminthes) is described. The brain consists of a central neuropile surrounded by a layer of cell bodies. The neuropile is composed of a fine meshwork of naked neurites which contain various types of vesicles and other organelles although microtubules have not been found. Five kinds of vesicles; three clear types and two dense types, were found within the neuropile. Two types of neuronal cell body were identified on the basis of thier vesicle contents although it is possible that these two types represent the extremes of a single cell type. A characteristic feature of the neuronal perikarya of Gastrocotyle is the presence of deep infoldings into the cell of the outer membrane. These infoldings often contain fibrous interstitial material and in a number of cases hemidesmosome-like structures have been found in the distended, distal end of the infoldings.