Some accessory microtubules from the proximal ends of membranelle basal bodies extend upward and curve over the left wall of the buccal cavity as can be followed in this micrograph. Some fibrous components (the posterior connectives, see Smith and Buhse, Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc. 102:264-271, 1983) from the membranelles pass into the specialized cytoplasm where it forms an electron opaque mass. The bottom of the buccal cavity bordered by oral ribs opens through the cytosome into the nascent digestive vacuole. The cytopharynx is the site of lamellar microtubules (1 or 2 microtubules per lamella) which direct flattened vesicles to the growing vacuole’s fusion site. TEM taken on 8/16/67 by R. Allen with Philips 200 operating at 60kV. Neg. 12,400X. The raw negative was scanned with an Epson Perfection V750 Pro and this high resolution image is best used for quantitative analysis. Additional information available at (http://www5.pbrc.hawaii.edu/allen/).
Biological Process: Oral apparatus organization
Standard glutaraldehyde fixation followed by osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in alcohol and embedded in an epoxy resin. Microtome sections prepared at approximately 75nm thickness. Additional information available at (http://www5.pbrc.hawaii.edu/allen/).
Author: Richard Allen (University of Hawaii)
Source: The Cell: An Image Library
