Cell bodies and neuronal processes of externally exposed amphid sensilla in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Abstract

Externally exposed sensilla, amphids and phasmids, in the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus were examined with respect to their number, wiring, and position in comparison with those reported in the free-living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. When B. xylophilus was soaked in FITC solution at 5°C for a few hours, two pairs of amphid neurons were stained. The staining pattern showed their bipolar processes emanating from the cell body located dorso-laterally: one process extended toward the tip of the head, and the other was projected into the nerve ring. Overnight soaking of the nematode with FITC revealed a teardrop-shaped apparatus with triradiate symmetry at the anterior of the metacorpus and long-shaped structures running toward stylet knobs. By this method, we could not detect phasmids in B. xylophilus, the result being different from those in C. elegans. Jpn. J. Nematol. 32 (2), 45-52 (2002).