Ultrastructure and histochemistry of the integument of air-breathing polychaetes from mangrove swamps of sumatra

The integument of S.E. Asian air-breathing polychaetes exhibits a variable ultrastructure with regard to cuticle and epithelial cells. The cuticle varies in thickness, contents of regularly arranged collagen fibrils, and structure of the epicuticle. The basal portion of the epithelium is either of smooth outline, or consists of slender processes of the epidermal cells separated by wide intercellular spaces which are invaded by a loose system of glia cells and nerve fibres. Extracellular spaces within the epidermis of the gills of Dendronereides heteropoda are transformed into blood lacunae. The enzyme content of the epithelial cells is relatively low.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Sto 75/2, We 380/4).