Summary
Rhabdites are rod-shaped secretory products characteristic of the Turbellaria but also found in nemerteans, gastrotrichs and annelids. Their functions are poorly understood. The structure, synthesis and secretion of rhabdites were studied in one archiannelid (Protodrilus sp.), and three turbellarians (Alloioplana californica, Polycladida;Monocelis cincta, Alloeocoela;Polychoerus carmelensis, Acoela). InAlloioplana, Monocelis andPolychoerus the rhabdites are the only, or most common, secretory product released on the ventral locomotor sole and therefore they are thought to form the viscous mucus used in locomotion by ciliary gliding. InProtodrilus, rhabdites are released along the ventrolateral margin of the worm and are secreted only when the worm tries to move by ciliary gliding against strong water currents. It is proposed that the principal function of rhabdites in the worms studied, is adhesion.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bedini, C., Papi, F.: Fine structure of the turbellarian epidermis. In: Biology of the Turbellaria (N.W. Riser, M.F. Morse, eds), pp. 108–147. New York: McGraw-Hill 1974
Boaden, P.J.S., Erwin, D.G.:Turbanella hyalina versusProtodriloides symbioticus: a study in interstitial ecology. Vie et Milieu ser. A,22, 479–492 (1971)
Claparede, E.: Les Annélides Chétopodes du Golfe de Naples. Memoires de la Société de Physique et D'Histoire Naturelle de Genève, vols. 19 and 20 (1867)
Costello, H.M., Costello, D.P.: A new species ofPolychoerus from the Pacific Coast. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. II,1, 148–155 (1938)
Coward, S.J., Piedilato, J.W.: Behavioral significance of rhabdite cells in planaria. J. Biol. Psychol.14, 5–7 (1972)
Gontcharoff, M.: Étude des rhabdites de la trompe deLineus ruber (Nèmertien) as microscope èlectronique. C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris)244, 1539–1541 (1957)
Grimstone, A.V.: Structure and function in protozoa. Annu. Rev. Microbiol.20, 131–150 (1966)
Heath, H., McGregor, E.A.: New polyclads from Monteray Bay, California. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila.64, 455–488 (1912)
Hovasse, R.: Trichocysts, corps trichocystöides, cnidocystes et colloblastes, Protoplasmatologia3F, 1–57 (1965)
Hulings, N.C., Gray, J.S.: A manual for the study of meiofauna. Smithson, Contrib. Zool. #78 (1971)
Humason, G.L.: Animal tissue techniques. San Francisco: Freeman 1972
Hyman, L.H.: The invertebrates, Vol. II. Platyhelminthes and Rhynchocoela. New York: McGraw-Hill 1951
Karling, T.G.: Marine Turbellaria from the Pacific Coast of North America. IV. Coelogynoporidae and Monocelididae. Ark. Zool.18, 493–528 (1966)
Kryvi, H.: The fine structure of the ventral mucous cells ofSabella penicillium (Polychaeta). Sarsia48, 23–32 (1972)
Lentz, T.L.: Rhabdite formation in planaria: the role of microtubules. J. Ultrastruct. Res.17, 114–126 (1967)
Mamkaev, Y.V.: Étude morphologique D'ActinoposthiaBeklemischevi n. sp. (Turbellaria, Acoela). Cah. Biol. Mar.6, 23–50 (1965)
Martin, G.G.: The duo-gland adhesive system of the archiannelidsProtodrius andSaccocirrus and the turbellarianMonocelis. Zoomorphologie91, 63–75 (1978)
Martin, G.G.: Ciliary gliding in lower invertebrates. Zoomorphologie91, 249–261 (1978)
Nicols, K.C.: Observations on lesser-known flatworms; Temnocephala. Int. J. Parasitol.5, 245–252 (1975)
Pedersen, K.J.: Slime secreting cells of planaria. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.106, 424–442 (1963)
Pedersen, K.J.: Cytological and cytochemical observations on the mucous gland cells of as acoel turbellarianConvoluta convoluta. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.118, 930–965 (1965)
Pierantoni, U.:Protodrilus. Fauna u Flora Neapel31, 1–226 (1908)
Reisinger, E.: Ultrastrukturforschung und Evolution. Ber. Physik. Med. Gesselsch. Würzburg,77, 5–47 (1969)
Reisinger, E., Kelbetz, S.: Feinbau und Entladungsmechanismus der Rhabditen. Z. Wiss. Liche Mikrosk.65, 472–508 (1964)
Rieger, R.M., Mainitz, M.: Comparative fine structure study of the body wall in Gnathostomulida and their phylogenetic position between Platyhelminthes and Aschelminthes. Z. Zool. Syst. Evolutionsforsch.15, 9–34 (1977)
Rieger, R.M., Ruppert, E., Rieger, G.E., Schoepfer-Sterrer, C.: On the fine structure of gastrotrichs with description ofChordodasys antennatus sp.n. Zool. Scr.3, 219–237 (1974)
Schopfer-Sterrer, C.:Chordodasys reidli gen. nov., spec. nov. A macrodasyoid gastrotrich with a chordoid organ. Cah. Biol. Mar.10, 391–404 (1969)
Skaer, R.J.: Some aspects of the cytology ofPolycelis nigra. Q.J. Microsc. Sci.102, 295–317 (1961)
Sterrer, W.: On some ofAustrognatharia, Pterognathia andHaplognathia nov. gen. from the North Caroline coast (Gnathostomulida). Int. Rev. Ges. Hydrobiol.55, 371–385 (1970)
Tyler, S.: Comparative ultrastructure of adhesive systems in the Turbellaria. Zoomorphologie84, 1–76 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
I acknowledge the support of a NIH grant to Professor Richard M. Eakin, the collection ofPolychoerus by Mr. Charles Spowart, the use of the facilities of the Electron Microscope Laboratory at Berkeley, and the critical reading of the manuscript by Dr. Eakin
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Martin, G.G. A new function of rhabdites: Mucus production for ciliary gliding. Zoomorphologie 91, 235–248 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999813
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999813