Intercoil connections of the kidney of the brine shrimp,Artemia salina

Summary Maxillary glands (kidneys) of adult brine shrimp were examined by light and electron microscopy. Within a single maxillary gland there are numerous places where adjacent coils of the efferent tubule are linked by structures designated intercoil connections. At the site of such a connection the basal laminae of the two coils are continuous, and one or more cytoplasmic processes originating from a cell of one coil form a bridge to the adjacent coil. The connecting processes are branched and interdigitate complexly with complementary processes from cells of the neighboring coil. Speculations are made about the functional significance of intercoil connections in the maxillary gland of Artemia.