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Fig. 4 | BMC Evolutionary Biology

Fig. 4

From: Neuroanatomy of mud dragons: a comprehensive view of the nervous system in Echinoderes (Kinorhyncha) by confocal laser scanning microscopy

Fig. 4

Predicted correlations between internal acetylated α-tubulin-LIR and external cuticular structures in Echinoderes. Anterior is up in all panels. Specimen silhouettes with dashed squares indicate the axial region of each z-stack. Color legend applies to all panels. Confocal z-stack projections and SEM micrographs were obtained from different specimens. a-j Echinoderes ohtsukai. k-p Echinoderes horni. a Confocal z-stack of segments 1–3 in lateral view co-labeled for acTub-LIR (acTub) and DNA. b SEM micrograph showing a pair of sensory spots in segment 1 that correspond to the upper boxed area in (d). The upper pair of dashed arrows in (a) correspond to innervation of the sensory spots in (b). c SEM micrograph showing a pair of sensory spots in segment 2 corresponding to the lower boxed area in (d). Lower pair of dashed arrows in (a) correspond to innervation of the sensory spots in (c). g confocal z-stack of segments 6–11 in ventral view co-labeled for acTub-LIR and DNA. e SEM micrograph of a midventral sensory spot corresponding to innervation (dashed arrow) in (g). f SEM of a lateroventral fringed tube from segment 7 corresponding to innervation in (g). h SEM of a lateroventral acicular spine and its innervation in (g). i SEM of a sieve plate on segment 9 and innervation in (g). j SEM of segments 8–11 in ventral view showing the position of the sieve plate (boxed area) magnified in (i). k Confocal z-stack of acTub-LIR within segment 7 in ventral view. l SEM of a ventromedial sensory spot and its corresponding innervation in (k). m SEM of the ventral side of segment 7 showing the relative position (boxed area) of the sensory spot in (l). n Confocal z-stack of acTub-LIR within segments 9–11 in ventral view. o SEM of sensory spots from segment 11 and their correlation with innervation in (n). p SEM of segments 9–11 in ventral view showing the sensory spots (boxed areas) magnified in (o). Scale bars: 20 μm in (a, d, n), 10 μm in (b, c, g, k, j, m, p), 2 μm in (e, f, h, i, o). Abbreviations: lnb, longitudinal neurite bundle; lvs, lateroventral spine; ncn, neck circular neurite; nen, nephridial neurite; s, segment; sdn, subdorsal longitudinal nerve; sn, spine neurite; sp., sieve plate; spn, ss, sensory spot; ssn, sensory spot neurite; tbn, tube neurite; tn, transverse neurite; tsn, terminal spine neurite; vnc, ventral nerve cord. Numbers after abbreviations refer to segment number

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