Neuroepithelial organs of the lateral line system in urodele amphibians [Ampystoma, Axolotl]

ABSTRACT

10 full-term larvae and adult urodeles [Ambystoma, axolotl] were used in this study. Serial Epon sections were prepared and stained with toluidine blue. The lateral line receptors in the larval and adult animals consisted of 2 types of organs, the ordinary neuromasts and the ampullary organs. The organs were arranged in different lines in the head and along the whole side of the body. The ampullary organs were restricted only to the head. The 2 types of organs were histologically different in their constituent cells, especially th sensory cells. In the neuromast, the sensory cell showed a single hair, while in the ampullary organ it showed a single striated protrusion. The significances of the distribution, morphology and histological structure of these sense organs were discussed