Transmission Electron Microscopical Observations on Stomatogenesis during Metamorphosis of Eufolliculina uhligi (Ciliophora: Heterotrichida)¹

Stomatogenesis during metamorphosis of the marine loricate ciliate, Eufolliculina uhligi, was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Kinetosome proliferation in the stomatogenic territory leads to the formation of an anarchic field. This separates into the left adoral and the right paroral primordia. Both primordia consist of pairs of kinetosomes. One kinetosome of a pair is associated with one transverse and two postciliary microtubules; the other has one transverse microtubule. The postciliary microtubules of the adoral kinetosomes become divergent; those of the paroral kinetosomes become convergent. The adoral kinetosomes arrange in promembranelles. Then a third row of kinetosomes is produced anteriorly to each promembranelle. This third row is short at the peristome but longer in the buccal area. The paroral kinetosomes form a stichodyad. The buccal part of the paroral primordium is resorbed during formation of the buccal cavity. Stomatogenesis ends with the development of a functioning cytostome. During this process, the postciliary microtubules of the buccal adoral membranelles elongate and become associated with cytopharyngeal vesicles. Fusion of these vesicles with the cytostome has been observed some time after the completion of the oral structures.