Fine structure of the adhesive pads of Gonionemus vertens.

The adhesive pads of Gonionemus vertens, located near the distal end of each tentacle, consist of a layer of columnar glandulomuscular cells surrounded by a collar of microfilament containing epithelial cells. The glandulomuscular cells contain dense secretory rods, microtubules, rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi elements and myonemes. Axons located between the basal portions of the glandulomuscular cells form synapses with the glandulomuscular cells. The roles of these various cell organelles in adhesion and detachment process are discussed.