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Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, Vol s3-99, 131-142, Copyright © 1958 by Company of Biologists

A Cytological and Histochemical Study of the Connective Tissue Fibres of the Leech, Hirudo medicinalis

S. BRADBURY 1

1 Cytological Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University Museum, Oxford

The fibres and the connective-tissue ground-substance of Hirudo medicinalis resemble those of the rhynchobdellid leech Glossiphonia complanata in general form and chemical composition. The fibres show a differentiation into ‘cortex’ and ‘medulla’. The ‘cortex’ is found to contain arginine, and acid mucopolysaccharide but no tyrosine or lipids; these results suggest that it is collagenous. Confirmation of this supposition is provided by the X-ray diffraction pattern. The ‘medulla’ is an extension of the cell-body of the fibrocyte.

The cytoplasm of the fibrocyte is found to contain three types of inclusion: mitochondria; spherical lipochondria about 1µ in diameter, which seem to consist of phospholipid; and larger triglyceride droplets. The cytoplasm also contains diffuse phospholipid and granular accumulations of acid mucopolysaccharide.

The connective tissue ground-substance resembles that of Glossiphonia in its properties and chemical composition, though there seems to be a higher proportion of acid mucopolysaccharide in the ground-substance of Hirudo.






© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1958