Ultrastructure of protonephridia in Xenotrichula carolinensis syltensis and Chaetonotus maximus (Gastrotricha: Chaetonotida): comparative evaluation of the gastrotrich excretory organs

In an attempt to obtain detailed information on the entire protonephridial system in Gastrotricha, we have studied the protonephridial ultrastructure of two paucitubulatan species, Xenotrichula carolinensis syltensis and Chaetonotus maximus by means of complete sets of ultrathin sections. In spite of some differences in detail, the morphology of protonephridia in both examined species shows a common pattern: Both species have one pair of protonephridia that consist of a bicellular terminal organ, a voluminous, aciliar canal cell and an adjacent, aciliar nephridiopore cell. The terminal organ consists of two monociliar terminal cells each with a distal cytoplasmic lobe. These lobes interdigitate and surround cilia and microvilli of the terminal cells. Where both lobes interdigitate, a meandering cleft is formed that is covered by the filtration barrier. We here term the entire structure composite filter. The elongated, in some regions convoluted protonephridial lumen opens distally to the outside via a permanent nephridiopore. A comparison with the protonephridia of other species of the Gastrotricha allows hypothesising the following autapomorphies of the Paucitubulata: The bicellular terminal organ with a composite filter, the convoluted distal canal cell lumen and the absence of cilia, ciliary basal structures and microvilli within the canal cell. Moreover, this comparative survey could confirm important characteristics of the protonephridial system assumed for the ground pattern of Gastrotricha like, for example, the single terminal cell with one cilium surrounded by eight microvilli.