Morphological Study on the Osphradium of Rapana venosa (Gastropoda : Muricidae)

피뿔고동 ( Rapana venosa Valenciennes )의 Osphardium 에 관한 형태학적 연구

The authors observed histochemical and ultrastructural characters on the osphradium of Rapana venosa Valenciennes using light microscope, scanning and transmission electron microscpes. The results were as follows:1)The basic structure of osphradium was bipectinated shape, which consisted of a septum situating in the center of osphradium and numerous osphradial leaflets. On the other hand, Epidermis of ospradial leaflets formed the structure of pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium which was composed of an epithelial cell layer, a basal cel layer and a neuropile. 2) Ciliated dpithelial cells:A large number of these cells were observed on the lateral and ventral regions but a small number of them were observed on the dorsal region. These cells had cylindrical microvilli, slender mitochondria and serve fibers.3) Supporting cells: These cells had cylindrical microvilli, spongy layer, electron dense granules, mitochondria and nerve fibers4) Four types secretory epothelial cells: Four distinct types of secretory epithelial cells were recognized and were arbitrily designated as Type I, Type II, Type III and Type IV.cell type I: These cells contained electron denwe granules(diameter, 0.94-1.56${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$), well developed Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticula, cell type II: These cills contained two types of granules of the different electron density. One was high electron density granules which were 0.4-1.0${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in diameter, The other was low electron density granules which were 0.75-1.2${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in diameter.cell type III:These cells had fibrous secretory materials and exhibited strongly positive reaction with Toluidine blue.cell type IV:A large number of this type of cells were observed on the ventral region of ospgradial leaflets and positively reacted with periodic acid Schiff reagent. 5)Dark cells contained several electron dense cillaty rootlets and unmerous granules but cellular organelles were not observed.6) Four types basal cells: Four distinci types of basal cells were recognized and arbitrarily designated as Type I, Type II, Type III and Type IV.Cell type I(light cell): These cells exhibited low electuon density and contained short smooth endoplasmic reticula, several vacuoles and granules.