Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS UK.
Tissue Cell. 1989;21(4):605-25. doi: 10.1016/0040-8166(89)90012-8.
The integument of Euperipatoides leukarti (Onychophora) has been studied by SEM and TEM-histochemical techniques. The thin (2-3 mu) cuticle is essentially arthropodan in design, comprising a thin, lamellate outer epicuticle, a homogeneous inner epicuticle, and an extensive fibrous procuticle. Five tanned lipoprotein lamellae constitute the outer epicuticle, the innermost showing a cross-striated pattern and the outermost also containing carbohydrates. The inner epicuticle contains untanned lipoproteins. The chitin-protein composite procuticle reveals a fibrous ultrastructure but no trace of helicoids. Distally it may be tanned, producing a sclerotin layer (exocuticle), pronounced in the sensory setae, claws and mandibles. Penetrating the epicuticle and extending into the procuticle are numerous, minute pore canals through which mobilised procuticle is resorbed prior to ecdysis. Beneath the procuticle is a monolayered epidermis traversed by tonofibrils and containing dense pigment granules. The membrane junctions are strongly convoluted and include an apical zonula adherens, septate desmosomes and a proximal lymph space. The epidermis is underlain by a thick (5-25mu) basement membrane of helicoidally organised collagen fibres. Functional and phylogetic implications of the integumental structure are discussed. Arthropod affinities are clear and the Onychophora should be included in that phylum if it is to be retained in modern taxonomic nomenclature.
通过扫描电镜和 TEM 组织化学技术研究了 Euperipatoides leukarti（倍足纲）的表皮。薄的（2-3μm）表皮在结构上基本上是节肢动物的，包括一个薄的、片状的外表皮、一个均匀的内表皮和一个广泛的纤维原表皮。五层鞣制的脂蛋白薄片构成外表皮，最内层显示出横纹图案，最外层也含有碳水化合物。内表皮含有未鞣制的脂蛋白。几丁质-蛋白质复合原表皮呈现出纤维状的超微结构，但没有螺旋体的痕迹。在远端，它可能被鞣制，产生一个硬化层（外骨骼），在感觉刚毛、爪子和下颚中很明显。穿透外表皮并延伸到原表皮的是许多微小的孔道，在蜕皮之前，移动的原表皮通过这些孔道被吸收。在原表皮下面是一层单层表皮，由张力原纤维穿过，其中含有密集的色素颗粒。膜连接强烈卷曲，包括一个顶端粘着带、有隔的桥粒和一个近端淋巴空间。表皮下面是一层厚的（5-25μm）螺旋状胶原纤维基底膜。讨论了表皮结构的功能和系统发育意义。节肢动物的亲缘关系很明显，如果倍足纲要保留在现代分类学命名法中，它应该被归入该门。
