Lee D L, Wright K A, Shivers R R
Department of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Leeds, U.K.
Parasitology. 1993 Dec;107 ( Pt 5):545-52. doi: 10.1017/s0031182000068128.
The surface of the cuticle of adult Nippostrongylus brasiliensis has been studied by means of the freeze-fracture technique and by transmission electron microscopy. Some of the surface coat appears to have been shed from the surface of the cuticle of adults fixed in situ in the intestine of its host and from the surface of individuals removed from the intestine and freeze-fractured. Freeze-fracturing the cuticle of individuals removed from the host has shown that this surface coat varies in thickness from 30 to 90 nm. The epicuticle is about 20 nm thick and cleaves readily to expose E- and P-faces. The P-face of the epicuticle possesses a small number of particles, similar to intra-membranous particles, whilst the E-face possesses a few, widely scattered depressions. Despite the presence of these particles the epicuticle is not considered to be a true membrane. Freeze-fracturing the remainder of the cuticle has confirmed its structure as described by conventional transmission electron microscopy. Clusters of particles on the P-face of the outer epidermal (hypodermal) membrane and corresponding depressions on the E-face of the membrane are though to be associated with points of attachment of the cuticle to the epidermis (hypodermis). No differences in appearance of the cuticle and its surface layers were observed in individuals taken from 7-, 10-, 13- and 15-day infections.
利用冷冻蚀刻技术和透射电子显微镜对巴西日圆线虫成虫角质层表面进行了研究。在原位固定于宿主肠道内的成虫角质层表面以及从肠道取出并进行冷冻蚀刻的个体表面，部分表面涂层似乎已经脱落。对从宿主取出的个体角质层进行冷冻蚀刻显示，这种表面涂层的厚度在30至90纳米之间变化。上角质层约20纳米厚，很容易裂开以暴露出E面和P面。上角质层的P面有少量类似于膜内颗粒的颗粒，而E面有一些分布广泛的凹陷。尽管存在这些颗粒，但上角质层不被认为是真正的膜。对角质层其余部分进行冷冻蚀刻证实了其结构与传统透射电子显微镜所描述的一致。外层表皮（皮下）膜P面上的颗粒簇以及该膜E面上相应的凹陷被认为与角质层与表皮（皮下组织）的附着点有关。在感染7天、10天、13天和15天的个体中，未观察到角质层及其表面层外观上的差异。
