Confocal microscopy of the light organ crypts in juvenile Euprymna scolopes reveals their morphological complexity and dynamic function in symbiosis
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/112280155/ABSTRACT

Laura K. Sycuro, Edward G. Ruby, Margaret McFall-Ngai, Journal of Morphology


This Journal of Morphology scholarly article uses confocal microscopy to study the epithelial crypts within a specialized light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. In the hours to days following hatching, E. scolopes obtains its light-emitting symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, from the surrounding environment and propagates the bacteria in these epithelial crypts. This study reveals that each of the three crypts on either side of the juvenile light organ is composed of four morphological regions and that a high degree of complexity in the morphology of the crypts, as well as in the extent to which the three crypts and their constituent regions differ in function during the early stages of the symbiosis. A subscription to Wiley InterScience may be required to access the full-text of this article.


Subject: Biology:Ecology:Symbiotic Relations:Mutualism, Biology:Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Microbiology:Methods of Microbiology :Microscopy, Molecular Methods
Resource Type: Scientific Resources:Research Results
Grade Level: Graduate/Professional, College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)