Function-Related Structural Characters and Their Modifications in the Hindgut Epithelium of Two Terrestrial Isopods, Armadillidium vulgare and Oniscus asellus

Abstract

Intercellular junctions of the hindgut epithelial cells of two terrestrial isopods, Armadillidium vulgare and Oniscus asellus, are described. Long septate desmosomes occupy the subluminal region while gap junctions, zonulae adherens and intercellular spaces characterize the remainder of the convoluted lateral cell borders. The specialized junctional complexes and the ultrastructural morphology of the cells indicate that the terrestrial isopod hindgut epithelium functions in transport. Using mitochondrial morphometry as an indicator of cell transport activity, it appears that the posterior hindgut of A. vulgare also participates in osmoregulation, which is not the case with O. asellus. With increased desiccation there develops a significant difference between the mitochondrial structure of the two species. The mitochondria of the former retain the active structural condition (intermediate condensed conformation) while those of the latter become swollen and damaged.