Studies on the midgut of Centropages typicus (copepod, calanoid). I. Structural and Ultrastructural Data

From a structural study of the midgut of Centropages typicus, three main zones presenting different cellular associations may be defined. The ultrastructural study carried out allows us to distinguish several cell types. The four principal cell categories (E, R, F and B) show a more or less marked resemblance with those identified in the Malacostraceans, especially in the hepatopancreas of Decapods. The three types R, F and B, which are subdivided according to their localization (R and R') or their developing stages (F1, F2; B1 to B5), are recognized by the following characteristics: R-cells with smooth endoplasmic reticulum and high microvilli (zones I and III); F-cells with rough endoplasmic reticulum and short or spherical microvilli (zones I and II); B-cells with a large vacuolar apparatus made up of lysosome-like dense bodies associated with vacuoles originating from pinocytosis (zone II). From the comparisons of morphological, ultrastructural and histochemical results concerning Centropages typicus with author's data, we propose and discuss these functions for the three principal cell types: synthesis and secretion of pre-digestive enzymes (F1 and F2-cells); enzyme synthesis, intracellular digestion and extrusion (B1 to B5-cells); absorption (R and R'-cells).