ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF THE HATSCHEK’S PIT EPITHELIAL CELLS OF AMPHIOXUS

摘要

The authors have observed, using an electron microscope, that the number of thesecretory granules and the development of various organelles in the apical epithelial cellof the Hatschek’s pit showed a positive correlation with the gonadal development andmaturity. At the same time, only the epithelial cells respond to GnRH-A(gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue). Both cytological and endocrinological experiments demon-strate that the cell may be the primitive gonadotropic cell of amphioxus.