ИСТИНА

Intestine of all nematodes consists of single-layered epithelium more or less uniform thoughout its length. Intestine cells are structured basically similarly in all nematodes but vary in finer details depending on systematic position and diet of species. Most diverse structure is a glycocalyx cover above the cell apical surface: it varies from almost invisible amorphous to thick complex and multilayered coat in different species. Apical microvilli usually vary in length and density. Parasitic nematodes have widely various terminal web (fibrillary structure in apical part of the cell): it can be absent for one species and be very dense for another. Spherocrystalles occur in both parasitic and free-living nematode gut cells. Their function is believed to be either digesting or storage of metabolism products. Important detail for metabolism understanding is type of storage compound. For nematodes, it can be lipid drops or glycogen. They occur in cells in different proportion depending on conditions of existence (anaerobic or aerobic, respectively). The study is supported by Russian Fund of Fundamental Researches, grant N 15-04-02597.