Ultrastructural studies on the brachiopod pedicle

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Abstract
Studies of the ultrastructure of representative articulate and inarticulate brachiopod pedicles show that there are similarities in secretory activity between pedicle epithelia of both classes and the outer mantle epithelium of the inarticulates. Rootlet epithelial cells of the articulate pedicle produce small vesicles which pass to the junction between rootlet and substrate and probably play a part in the breakdown of the substrate. Scanning electron microscopy shows that dissolution of a bivalve shell acting as a substrate often follows the boundary of a single nacre tablet and transmission electron microscopy shows that the rootlet extends its infiltratin along the conchiolin walls. The inarticulate pedicle ending is modified to collect adherent sand grains.