A histochemical study of the epidermal gland secretions in earth worm Megascolex mauritii has been made. The secretions of the aluminous gland is a glyco or mucoprotein and that of the mucous gland cells is an acid mucopolysaccharide. Two types of mucous glands are present in the epidermis, the small and large mucous glands, secreting hyaluronic acid and highly acidic sulphated mucopolysaccharide, respectively.
The functions of the secretions from these glands are investigated. The albuminous and small gland cells secrete mucin under normal conditions and this mucin keeps the body surface moist and serves as lubricant during locomotion. The large mucous gland secretes only after irritation and its secretion may be an alarm pheromone.
© 1946 – 2014: Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.