A Scanning Electron Microscopy Method to Visualise the Copulatory Organ Morphology of Microturbellarian Flatworms: Trigonostomum Schmidt, 1852 as a Case Study
Laura Vanstraelen, Tom Artois, Thierry Backeljau, Nikol Kmentová, Mare Geraerts, Marlies Monnens
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Traditional methods for studying the morphology of microturbellarian flatworms rely on light microscopy, which often lacks the resolution necessary to capture fine structural details. Therefore, we present a protocol to improve the visualisation of structural morphological details in microturbellarians by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We demonstrate this method by imaging the sclerotised copulatory organs of three species of Trigonostomum (Rhabdocoela, Trigonostomidae): T. venenosum, T. setigerum, and T. penicillatum. Additionally, we successfully visualise the bursal appendage of T. penicillatum. SEM imaging offered new morphological insights for the genus, and corrected earlier interpretations made with light microscopy. The method requires precision and careful handling, especially during the isolation of the hard parts. However, it is cost-effective and straightforward to carry out in any standard laboratory setting. Hence, our SEM protocol complements traditional light microscopy and opens new avenues for taxonomical research in microturbellarian taxa with hard parts.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Morphology welcomes articles of original research in cytology, protozoology, embryology, and general morphology. Articles generally should not exceed 35 printed pages. Preliminary notices or articles of a purely descriptive morphological or taxonomic nature are not included. No paper which has already been published will be accepted, nor will simultaneous publications elsewhere be allowed.
The Journal of Morphology publishes research in functional, comparative, evolutionary and developmental morphology from vertebrates and invertebrates. Human and veterinary anatomy or paleontology are considered when an explicit connection to neontological animal morphology is presented, and the paper contains relevant information for the community of animal morphologists. Based on our long tradition, we continue to seek publishing the best papers in animal morphology.