Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of the female reproductive system of Schistosoma margrebowiei Le Roux, 1933

Abstract

ABSTRACTTransmission electron microscopy shows that the uterus of female Schistosoma margrebowiei possesses the same ultrastructure as that of the tegument but lacks spines and sense organs. It does not possess secretory cells and opens at the gonopore which by scanning electron microscopy was seen to be composed of numerous leaf-like protrusions. The morphology of the ovary is comparable with that of other Digenea. Immature and mature ova possess cortically arranged granules and occur within the posterior zone of the ovary. Cilia and lamellae line the luminal surface of the oviduct and ootype, the lamellae running unidirectionally along the duct. Only a single type of secretory cell is seen within Mehlis' gland and this produces dense bodies which are associated with Goldi bodies. Narrow cytoplasmic channels supported by microtubules deliver these secretory bodies to the ootype. The vitelline duct is lined with cilia and lamellae and the vitelline gland contains four types of cells, S1, S2, S3 and S4. Calcareous corpuscles are found within mature S4 cells.