FUNCTIONAL HISTOLOGY OF THE ENCHYTRAEID ENCHYTRAEUS-CORONATUS (OLIGOCHAETA) DIGESTIVE EPITHELIUM

The histology of the alimentary epithelium of the terrestrial enchytra eid Enchytraeus coronatus was described by means of light and electron microscopy. It could be shown that the gut is differentiated into dis tinct functional regions, buccal cavity, pharynx with the dorsal phary ngeal pad and the opening of the pharyngeal gland protrusions, the oes ophagus differentiated into three regions (segment VI - VII characteri zed by zymogenic grana between the luminal microvilli and cilia. segme nt VI - XII characterized by the absence of these grana and the presen ce of deep basal infoldings; and segment XIII characterized by the puf fing up of the ciliar membranes), the anterior, glandular and posterio r midgut; and the rectum. Because of the apparent absence of a glycoca lix throughout the gut, it is assumed that extracorporal and intracell ular digestion may play an important role in the digestive processes o f this enchytraeid species.