Meeting Abstract

P3.155  Friday, Jan. 6  Comparative Anatomy of Ciliated Tissues in Armina californica WALTERS, IJ*; CAIN, SD; Eastern Oregon University; Eastern Oregon University renerooser@comcast.net

Ciliated cells and surfaces, coupled with mucus secreting cells and organs, are nearly ubiquitous in the animal kingdom. For example, humans regulate their cerebral-spinal fluid, reproduction, as well as maintain healthy lungs using ciliated tissues. In addition, other animals such as sea slugs use cilia as their primary mode of locomotion. Our knowledge of ciliated cells, however, is minimal when compared to our understanding of muscle cells, which are involved in several other types of cellular movements. Recently, the sea slugs have become a model for understanding the nervous control of cilia. Here we describe the morphology and physiology of cilia from the nudibranch Armina californica, as a first step in investigating the nervous control of ciliated surfaces in this slug. We used standard histological procedures to section and stain A.californica tissues. In this study we investigated the four types of ciliated tissues. Furthermore, we looked for mucus-secreting ducts and cells associated with the ciliated tissues. Preliminary data indicate that cilia vary in size and length and have varying amounts and types of mucus.