Summary
The sensory epithelium of the lateral line organ of the common eel consists of two types of cells, (sensory and supporting). The sensory cell bears a kinocilium together with about 40 to 60 stereocilia on its surface. The kinocilium is situated either at rostral or at caudal margin of this cilial group. Such polarity of the cilial group of one cell is inverse to that of an adjacent cell.
Two types of crystal-like inclusions exist in the sensory cells, consisting of granules 100 Å in diameter. Granules in one type are arranged regularly whereas those in the other rather irregularly.
Two types of nerve endings exist at the base of sensory cells: one is predominant in number and contains few vesicles, accompanied by a dense spherical body surrounded by small vesicles in the sensory cell and the other is rare in number and contains many vesicles, accompanied by a small flat sac just beneath the plasma membrane of the sensory cell.
The supporting cells contain numerous mitochondria, a well developed Golgi apparatus and rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, and surround a sensory cell completely. Physiologic significance of some of these components is discussed.
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Yamada, Y., Hama, K. Fine structure of the lateral-line organ of the common eel, Anguilla japonica . Z. Zellforsch. 124, 454–464 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335251
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335251