Summary
The notochord of Ichthyophis glutinosus and I. kohtaoensis consists of peripheral flattened cells characterized by a well-developed system of rough endoplasmic reticulum, bundles of tonofilaments, and abundant glycogen particles. These cells contain furthermore fairly high activities of α-naphtyl-acetate esterase and 4-chloro-5-bromoindoxyl acetate esterase as well as acid phosphatase which was found in lysosomal localization. The huge intracellular vacuoles of the centrally situated cells possibly originate from electron translucent spaces within the glycogen fields of the peripheral cells.
The notochord sheath consists of variously differentiated layers of collagen fibers and of an elastica externa. The diameters of the collagen fibers increase from the inner towards the outer region of the sheath. A peculiar feature of the Ichthyophis notochord sheath is a ring of mineralized collagen. The notochord of the caecilians investigated is compared with that of anurans, urodeles, and several groups of fish.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barka, I., Anderson, P. J.: Histochemistry. Theory, practice, and bibliography, pp. 660. New York-Evanston-London: Harper & Row 1963.
Bruns, R. R., Gross, J.: Studies on the tadpole tail I. Structure and organization of the notochord and its covering layers in Rana catesbiana. Amer. J. Anat. 128, 193–224 (1970).
Cloney, R. A.: Cytoplasmic filaments and morphogenesis: The role of the notochord in Ascidian metamorphosis. Z. Zellforsch. 100, 31–53 (1969).
Duncan, R.: Electron microscope study of the embryonic neural tube and notochord. Tex. Rep. Biol. Med. 15, 367–377 (1957).
Flood, P.: Extraction of a paramyosin-like protein from the notochord of Amphioxus. 4th Europ. reg. conference electron microsc. Rome (Abstract).
- Personal communication (1969).
Holt, S. J.: Indigogenic staining methods for esterases. In: General cytochemical methods, vol. I, p. 375–398, ed. by J. F. Danielli. New York: Academic Press 1958.
Jurand, A.: The development of the notochord in chick embryos. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 10, 602–621 (1962).
Leeson, T. S., Leeson, C. R.: Observations and the histochemistry and fine structure of the notochord in rabbit embryos. J. Anat. (Lond.) 92, 278–285 (1958).
Olsson, R.: Comparative morphology and physiology of the Oikopleura notochord. Israel J. Zool. 14, 213–220 (1965).
Remane, A.: Skelettsystem I. Wirbelsäule und ihre Abkömmlinge, in: Handbuch der vergleichenden Anatomie der Wirbeltiere, herausgeg. von L. Bolk, E. Göppert, E. Kallius, W. Lubosch, vol. 4, p. 1–206. Berlin u. Wien: Schwarzenberg, 1936.
Schwarz, W.: Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an den Chordazellen von Petromyzon. Z. Zellforsch. 55, 597–609 (1961).
Waddington, C. H., Perry, M. M.: The ultrastructure of the developing urodele notochord. Proc. roy. Soc. B 156, 459–482 (1962).
Welsch, U.: Über den Feinbau der Chorda dorsalis von Branchistoma lanceolatum. Z. Zellforsch. 87, 69–81 (1968).
—, Storch, V.: Über den Aufbau der Chorda dorsalis niederer Wirbeltiere. Zool. Anz., Suppl. 33, 601–606 (1970a).
—: The fine structure of the stomochord of the enteropneusts Harrimania kupfferi and Ptychodera flava. Z. Zellforsch. 107, 234–239 (1970b).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Welsch, U., Storch, V. Fine structural and enzymehistochemical observations on the notochord of Ichthyophis glutinosus and Ichthyophis kohtaoensis (Gymnophiona, Amphibia). Z. Zellforsch. 117, 443–450 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00324813
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00324813