Sequentially bidirectional gastrovascular flows in intricately branched digestive tract of planocerid flatworms.

ABSTRACT: Polyclad flatworms possess an intricately branched digestive system combining features of a gastrovascular cavity as well as a gastrointestinal tract. Nonetheless, the functions of this system remain unconfirmed, due to a lack of effective observation methods. This paper presents a novel staining method to facilitate the analysis of this highly branched digestive system. Video recordings obtained during ingestion revealed sequentially bidirectional gastrovascular flows and a corresponding occurrence of regular contractions. Tissue sections revealed that the contractions can be attributed to a radial arrangement of muscles around the gastrointestinal tract. The highly branched digestive system of the flatworm revealed evidence of bidirectional flow and sequential peristalsis, which may allo

SUBMITTER: Hsu PC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11658467 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature