Electron-microscopic observations of the gravity receptor epithelia of normal and spinner juvenile Octopus maya |
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Authors: | C D Fermin Dr W F Colmers M Igarashi |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA;(2) Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA;(3) Present address: Department of Medical Physiology, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr., NW, T2N 4N1 Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
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Abstract: | Summary Light and electron microscopy of the gravity receptor epithelia (maculae) of statocysts of normal and spinner juvenile Octopus maya showed differences between the structures of the hair cells, supporting cells, and afferent neurons of these cephalopods. The maculae of spinner animals were approximately 30% smaller in their surface area and had 40% fewer hair cells. Moreover, the average distance between randomly-chosen hair bundles in scanning electron micrographs of maculae of normal animals was significantly greater (4.33±6.47 m) than those of maculae of spinner animals (3.38±4.90 m; P<0.0001). The sectional area of the supporting cell's microvilli in spinners maculae was larger (0.16±0.18 m) than those of normal (0.10±0.10 m; P<0.0001) O. maya. The morphological differences observed between certain structural components of the maculae of normal and spinner O. maya may be related to the absence and/or malformation of the neuroepithelial suprastructures in spinners. This may have direct or indirect effects related to their inability to orient to gravity with these organs. |
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Keywords: | Maculae Cephalopods Statolith defects Ultrastructure Spinner octopus |
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