RICHARDSON, J.F.; SATTERLIE, R.A.: Ultrastructural comparison of the pleural white cells in immature and mature specimens of the pteropod mollusc Clione limacina.

The pteropod mollusc Clione limacina exhibits asymmetrical nervous system development during sexual maturation. The pleural white cell is an asymmetric cell in the right pleural ganglia with one of the largest somata in the nervous system. During maturation, this cell increases in diameter out of proportion to its neighboring cells. It appears transparent in immature specimens and opaque white in mature specimens. This change in appearance is believed to be related to an increase in the concentration of secretory vesicles within the cytosol. TEM examination of pleural white cell ultrastructure has presented notable differences between the concentration of secretory vesicles in immature and mature specimens.