HOCH, J. Matthew; State University of New York at Stony Brook: Rotifer micro-anatomy as revealed by Phallacidin and Propidium Iodide staining and confocal microscopy

Rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) were fixed and stained with BODIPY-FL Phallacidin, a filamentous actin stain (muscle fibers) and Propidium Iodide, a DNA stain. Visualization with an ultraviolet light source and a confocal microscope revealed fine scale three-dimensional morphology of feeding structures, muscle tissues, syncytial tissues and reproductive organs. This poster presents three-dimensional images specifically showing the mastax and details of its muscular complex, the syncytial vitellarium at various stages of embryogenesis and the coronal and pedal retractor muscles. These images allow for future comparisons of functional morphology with other rotifer species of different diets and habitats.