TEGUMENTAL GLANDS OF HUTCHINSONIELLA-MACRACANTHA (CEPHALOCARIDA)

Three types of tegumental glands of Hutchinsoniella macracantha body, limb, and caudal, are described for the first time. Previously describ ed salivary and cement glands also belong to this category. All have t he same fundamental construction. They consist of 1 or 2 secretory cel ls opening into a short cuticular channel ending in a pore. The channe l is Formed by a sheath or canal cell and an intermediate cell. The in termediate cell has an actin-like filament bundle encircling the duct. If is a type of tricellular tegumental gland common in crustaceans. T he secretory cells can be very large, the caudal gland in the cerci be ing 0.5-0.6 mm in length. They are, at least distally, completely fill ed with secretory granules. Some contain enormous Golgi-like bodies. T he secretory cells vary in cytological details and granular secretion, both within a pair and depending on body position. It is concluded th at a common gross morphology of the tegumental glands of Hutchinsoniel la houses different functions.