The morphology of a harpacticoid copepod gut: A review and synthesis

The digestive tract of a harpacticoid copepod, Tigriopus californicus (Baker), was studied by using techniques of light and electron microscopy. Four cell types could be distinguished: type 1, an embryonic cell which will replace cells worn away or lost during secretion; type 2, a cell which synthesizes and secretes proteins and also plays a role in lipid absorption; and types 3 and 4, two cell types which absorb lipids. From the abundance of each cell type, the length of microvilli, the development of basal plasma membrane (PM), and luminal projections, the following conclusions were made. (1) The midgut caecum absorbs digested nutrients. (2) The anterior midgut absorbs nutrients and more importantly functions in merocrine and exocrine secretion. The presence of concretions in cell types 2 and 3 in the anterior midgut suggests that these tissues contribute in excretion, and in water and/or ion regulation. (3) The posterior midgut absorbs nutrients and contributes some holocrine secretion.