STUDIES ON RECEPTORS IN CIONA INTESTINALIS .3. A SECOND TYPE OF PHOTORECEPTOR IN TADPOLE LARVA OF CIONA INTESTINALIS

A photoreceptor type structure not previously described has been found in the dorsal wall of the cerebral vesicle of the tadpole larva of Ciona intestinalis. The membranes of this receptor are organised as tubules some 60-100 nm in diameter and up to 1.5 μm long. The tubules are confined in bundles about 1.5 μm in diameter, which extend from the cell surface into the cavity of the cerebral vesicle. These tubules are similar to those in the rhabdomeric type of photoreceptor. However, in the cells from which the tubule processes arise are structures typical of the bases of cilia, and found in ciliary type photoreceptors. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.