Vincent A L, Frommes S P, Portaro J K, Ash L R
J Parasitol. 1978 Oct;64(5):775-85.
The anterior alimentary tract of infective-stage Wuchereria bancrofti is divided into the following segments: stoma or buccal capsule, muscular esophagus, glandular esophagus, esophageal-intestinal valve, and intestine. Invaginated external cuticle lines only the anterior stoma. External cuticle and esophageal lining are not continuous and are ultrastructurally distinct; the latter is compared morphologically to the amorphous component of elastin. The glandular esophagus is a composite structure of a stellate contractile epithelial core, surrounded by a sleeve of secretory epithelium. The glandular cytoplasm shows evidence of formation and release of dense secretory granules. At least 2 nerve cell bodies lie within the esophagus approximately 15 micrometer anterior to the esophageal-intestinal valve and their associated processes pass forward and backward through the contractile epithelium. Materials interpreted as ingested flight muscle mitochondria of the mosquito vector appear in various stages of degeneration within the intestinal lumen. It is suggested that, although simple by comparison to some other nematodes, the anterior alimentary tract of infective-stage W. bancrofti functions in the ingestion and breakdown of nutrient materials. The ultrastructure of the excretory cell likewise suggests a functional capability.
口或口囊、肌质食管、腺质食管、食管-肠瓣膜和肠。内陷的外皮层仅衬于前口。外皮层和食管内膜不连续，在超微结构上明显不同；后者在形态上与弹性蛋白的无定形成分相比较。腺质食管是一个复合结构，有一个星状收缩上皮核心，被一层分泌上皮所包围。腺质细胞质显示出致密分泌颗粒形成和释放的迹象。至少有2个神经细胞体位于食管-肠瓣膜前方约15微米处的食管内，其相关突起向前和向后穿过收缩上皮。被解释为蚊媒摄入的飞行肌线粒体的物质在肠腔内呈现出不同程度的退化阶段。有人认为，尽管与其他一些线虫相比较为简单，但感染期班氏吴策线虫的前消化道在营养物质的摄取和分解中发挥作用。排泄细胞的超微结构同样显示出其功能能力。
