Light and Electron Microscopic Studies on Ultimobranchial Body of Softshelled Turtle

The purpose of this studies was to make a comparative anatomy of the ultimobranchial body of the softshelled turtle with that of the turtle and other animals through light and electron microscopy. The following results were obtained:1. In light microscopy, the ultimobranchial body of the softshelled turtle was rich in connective tissue and capillary vessels.2. The ultimobranchial body was found as a cluster of cells with dimensinos 4000×1300×1300μm lyinglengthwise from the cranialis to the caudalis.3. The ultimobranchial body had a number of follicles and lumens of various size, some of which were empty, some with colloidal substance, and others with particles suggesting cellular debris.4. These lumens were surrounded by either simple squamous epithelium or by simple cuboidal epithelium.5. In erectron microscopy, cells forming follicles and lumens were of three kinds: light, dark, and semi-dark. There were two types for each kind; hence, the cells were classifiable into the total of six kinds. Granules formed in these cells were 250-400 nm in size.6. There were clusters of semi-dark cells apart from the follicles and lumens. Granules in these cells were 150-300 nm in size.7. Both in light and electron microscopy, the ultimobranchial body of the softshelled turtle possessed a number of similarities to that of other animals. From a morphological point of view, it appears to be a group of cells possessing secretive functions.