Wilkie I C
Cell Tissue Res. 1979 Apr 12;197(3):515-30. doi: 10.1007/BF00233574.
The intervertebral ligament of the brittlestar Ophiocomina nigra contains numerous cellular processes which belong to perikarya located on the outer surfaces of the ligament. These are described as the juxtaligamental cells and have been studied by light and electron microscopy. The cells are mainly concentrated in four pairs of ganglion-like nodes associated with the intervertebral ligament and in similar nodes adjacent to every other major connective tissue component of the arm. Although their histochemistry and ultrastructure indicate a neurosecretory function, they are anomalous in containing unusually large electron-dense granules probably associated with calcium. The ganglion-like nodes are innervated by hyponeural nerves, though synaptic contacts with the juxtaligamental cells have yet to be demonstrated. The function of the cells is discussed and it is suggested that they may be involved in the rapid loss of tensil strength which the intervertebral ligament sustains during arm autotomy. They may achieve this by controlling the availability of Ca2+ ions to the extracellular compartment of the ligament.
脆海星（Ophiocomina nigra）的椎间韧带含有许多细胞突起，这些突起属于位于韧带外表面的神经核周体。这些细胞被描述为韧带旁细胞，并已通过光学显微镜和电子显微镜进行了研究。这些细胞主要集中在与椎间韧带相关的四对神经节样结节以及与腕部其他主要结缔组织成分相邻的类似结节中。尽管它们的组织化学和超微结构表明具有神经分泌功能，但它们含有异常大的可能与钙相关的电子致密颗粒，这一点很反常。神经节样结节由下神经支配，不过与韧带旁细胞的突触联系尚未得到证实。文中讨论了这些细胞的功能，并提出它们可能参与了椎间韧带在腕部自切过程中所承受的拉伸强度的快速丧失。它们可能通过控制钙离子进入韧带细胞外间隙的可用性来实现这一点。
