Abstract
NOTHING was known of tunicate receptors before 1899, when Herdman1, in his description of Ascidia, mentioned a few structures that might act as receptors, but gave no proof or details. Lorleberg2, on the other hand, stated in 1907 that in Stylopsis "there is complete lack of sense cells". Hecht3 could not find any receptor organs besides the tentacles and margins of the siphons. Das4 showed for the first time definite receptor cells in the test and mantle. He demonstrated red pigmented cells which act as photoreceptors. Besides these, the tentacles and dorsal tubercle have been mentioned by various workers as having definite receptor functions. I have found a new structure in Ciona, in the intersiphonal region, which appears like an eye-spot and is definitely a photoreceptor. No mention of this structure is found in the various accounts of Ciona given by different authors. This eye-spot can be easily seen when the atrial aperture is wide open. It lies on the wall of the mantle just behind the base of the atrial siphon on its dorsal aspect. It is specially conspicuous in dark-adapted animals.
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References
Herdman, L.M.B.C. Memoirs, 1 (1899).
Lorleberg, Z. Wiss. Zool., 88, 212 (1907).
Hecht, J. Exp. Zool. Philadelphia, 25, 229 (1918).
Das, J. Morph., Philadelphia, 59, (3), 589 (1936).
Metcalf and Hunter, J. Roy. Mic. Soc. (1901).
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DAS, S. Receptor Organs in Tunicata. Nature 162, 1000 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/1621000a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1621000a0
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