Journal article

Publication year: 1985

Pages: 16-29

Journal: Zoomorphology

Volume number: 105

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 0720-213X

eISSN: 1432-234X

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312069

Publisher: Springer

Abstract: 
The pericardial appendages (glands) are the principal excretory organs of the tetrabranchiate cephalopods. They were studied in N. macromphalus and N. pompilius using light micoscopical and EM methods. The 4 organs, which are homologous with the bronchial heart complex in Coleoidea, appear to represent a phylogenetically archaic state. Actually, they have led to take over the primary functions of secretion, and they are highly evolved. They are built up of numerous contractile villi which can be subdivided into 3 functionally important areas: the folded peripheral epithelium functioning particularly in reabsorption, the primarily secretory epithelium of the apical infoldings of the villi, and the ovoid cells with foot processes building up an ultra-filtration barrier. The filtrate seems to be expelled into the terminal secretory epithelium of the apical infoldings and not directly into the coelom. Within the brush border of the peripheral epithelia there are commensal flagellated bacteria, which may ocucpy an ecological niche similar to that of Dicyemida in the renal sacs of coleoids.

Harvard Citation style: SCHIPP, R., MARTIN, A., LIEBERMANN, H. and MAGNIER, Y. (1985) CYTOMORPHOLOGY AND FUNCTION OF THE PERICARDIAL APPENDAGES OF NAUTILUS (CEPHALOPODA, TETRABRANCHIATA), Zoomorphology, 105(1), pp. 16-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312069

APA Citation style: SCHIPP, R., MARTIN, A., LIEBERMANN, H., & MAGNIER, Y. (1985). CYTOMORPHOLOGY AND FUNCTION OF THE PERICARDIAL APPENDAGES OF NAUTILUS (CEPHALOPODA, TETRABRANCHIATA). Zoomorphology. 105(1), 16-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312069