The Fine Structure of Ampullary Electric Receptors in Amiurus

The small pit-organs of Amiurus have been included in the group of ampullary lateral-line organs. On morphological and physiological grounds these ampullary organs are thought to be electric receptors and not mechano-receptors; thus they can be distinguished from all other types of acoustico-lateralis organs of vertebrates. Each small pit-organ consists of a duct leading from the surface of the skin to an ampulla, beneath which there is a group of cells lying at the base of the epidermis. There are two main types of cells in this group: the receptor and the accessory cells. The apical surfaces of the receptor cells bear microvillae but no cilia: these microvillae project into the lumen of the ampulla. Myelinated nerves supply the organs at the base ; they lose their myelin sheaths before entering the cell group where they branch and innervate the receptor cells. Small nerve terminals are closely applied to the surface of the receptor cells and in some places are thought to be in synaptic contact. Near these regions characteristic dense bodies are found in the base of the receptor cells. The bodies are surrounded by an accumulation of small vesicles of about 300 to 500 Å in diameter; they resemble structures found in corresponding situations in other types of sensory cells. Dense inclusions are found in some receptor cells: these inclusions have a highly ordered fine structure which in some sections appears as a square array of dense dots having a centre-to-centre spacing of about 75 Å. These observations are discussed in relation to the supposed activity of small pit-organs as electric receptors and to their position in the group of ampullary lateral-line organs.