Ultrastructure of oncospheral envelopes and their differentiation in the cestode, Dicranotaenia coronula [Dujardin, 1845] [Cyclophyllidea, Hymenolepididae]

Studies of the ultrastructure of oncospheral envelopes and their differentiation in the hymenolepidid cestode Dicranotaenia coronula in utero revealed four main envelopes: (1) capsule, (2) outer envelope, (3) inner envelope with a thin, electron-dense embryophore, and (4) oncospheral membrane. An additional hemispherical calotte, the hook region membrane covers one pole of the oncosphere and is attached to its surface. Both the outer and inner envelope represent syncytial layers which contain large, flattened nuclei of blastomeres which participated in their formation: nuclei of macromeres in the outer, and nuclei of mesomeres in the inner envelope. The granular cytoplasm of the both envelopes contains a large amount of free ribosomes, numerous mitochondria and several lipid droplets. The primary inner envelope of the early embryo forms in the later stage of embryogenesis its two derivatives: the embryophore and the oncospheral membrane. The hook region membrane oryginates from a syncytial binucleate complex by delamination of its cytoplasmic plate. Both the ultrastructural features of oncospheral envelopes and mode of their differentiation are compared with those described previously in the other hymenolepidids with aquatic and terrestrial life cycles. The ultrastructure of the oncospheral envelopes in D. coronula is discussed in relation to its life cycle and to environmental conditions in which the infective eggs remain for a certain period of time, until eaten by benthal ostracods, the intermediate hosts of D. coronula.