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Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, Vol s3-98, 29-45, Copyright © 1957 by Company of Biologists
1 Cytological Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University Museum, Oxford
The fibres and the connective tissue ground-substance of Glossiphonia complanata have been studied morphologically and histochemically. The fibres, which run in the connective tissue-substance between the organs of the body, are cytoplasmic extensions of bipolar or multipolar cells. The average diameter of the fibres is between 1 and 2 µ, and a single fibre may exceed 100 µ in length. Each fibre is differentiated into a cortex and a medulla. The cortex contains arginine, and some acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides; this suggests that it is collagenous. The medulla is an extension of the protoplasm of the cell-body.
The cell-body of the fibre has a basiphil cytoplasm, which contains arginine, acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides, and much ribonucleic acid. Spherical lipochondria up to 4 µ in diameter are present in the cytoplasm, especially near the nucleus; they contain chiefly phospholipid. Threadlike mitochondria are present in the cytoplasm of this cell.
The connective tissue ground-substance is present as a matrix between the cells and organs of the body. Histochemical tests showed that it contains small amounts of arginine, tyrosine, neutral and acid mucopolysaccharides. The refractive index of the ground-substance is about 1.35
