Structural characteristics of the integument of the intestinal wall of Gongylonema pulchrum (Molin, 1857)

The epithelial surfaces (integument and intestine) of the nematode, Gongylo nema pulchrum, are examined by electron microscopy. The integument is compo sed of cuticle and hypodermis. The latter is adjacent to the somatic muscul ature. There are structural differences between the cuticle of the anterior third and the rest of the worm body, with regards to number and morphologi cal characteristics of the cuticular layers. The intestinal epithelium is c omposed of cells covered with numerous microvilli at their lumenal surface. The cells comprise of terminal web, cytoplasm containing endoplasmic retic ulum and secretory bodies and lysosomes, nucleus, basal plasmalemma and bas ement membrane. The described ultrastructure is related to the main functio ns of the two epithelial surfaces absorption, digestion, secretion, transpo rt, protection, movement.