Fine structure of the digestive tract epithelium in the terrestrial isopod. Armadillidium vulgare

An ultrastructural study of the hindgut, associated hepatopancreatic lobes and hepatopancreatic ducts of the terrestrial isopod, Armadillidium vulgre was undertaken. The simple epithelium which lines the heptopancreas consists of two cell types, S and B. Both cell types have numerous microvilli. A simple epithelium consisting of one cell type lines the hepatopancreatic ducts and the hindgut. Microvilli are not evident in the duct. The cells of the duct and the hindgut are covered with a cuticle. Dense granular bodies are characteristic of the cytoplasm of the duct cells. The hindgut epithelial cells have pronounced apical and basal-lateral cytoplasmic infoldings. Apical infoldings from large subcuticular spaces, especially in the posterior hindgut. Microtubules and large numbers of mitochondria are associated with the cytoplasmic infoldings. Large microtubular bundles are seen in the peripheral cytoplasm, and residual bodies are present in the central cytoplasm. Lateral plasma membranes form septate desmosomes in the apical region of cells, while zonulae adherentes and intercellular spaces are found basal to the septate desmosomes. The cellular organization of the hindgut is suggestive of cells active in water and ion transport.