Myoanatomy and nervous system of a swimming-type larva Barentsia gracilis (Entoprocta: Coloniales)

The organization of the musculature and nervous system of the larvae of Entoprocta is still poorly investigated.Only a few species have been studied using methods of immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy.Previously investigated larvae belong to creeping-type larvae or swimming-type larvae with a completely reduced foot.This study describes the myoanatomy and nervous system (-tubulin labeling) of the larva of Barentsia gracilis, the swimming-type larva with a partially reduced foot.The musculature of B. gracilis includes the muscles of the apical organ, various longitudinal and transverse muscles of the episphere, the musculature of the foot rudiment, the ring and longitudinal muscles of the prototroch, and the musculature of the hyposphere.The nervous system includes the apical and frontal ganglia connected by apico-frontal connectives, paired foot knob nerves, foot nerves and frontal nerves, several fine transverse nerves of the episphere, and the nerve ring of the prototroch.How to cite this article: