SYNAPTIC STRUCTURES IN THE LATERAL LINE CANAL ORGAN OF THE TELEOST FISH LOTA VULGARIS

Abstract

This paper is a preliminary report on some of the results of electron microscopic studies on the lateral line canal organ of the teleost fish Lota vulgaris. It deals with the ultrastructure of the synaptic area on the hair cells of the sensory epithelium and describes the nerve endings as well as a complicated system of foldings of the hair cell plasma membranes enclosing portions of the hair cell cytoplasm in the synaptic area. These findings are discussed in the light of present knowledge of the ultrastructure of other receptoneuronal synapses.