[Morphofunctional characteristics of the vascular endothelium in the common leech (Clepsina complanta)].

The electron microscopic investigation has revealed in the body of the leech two types of vessels, that together with common signs possess a number of peculiarities in composition of endothelial cells. These vessels have different level of organization: the vessels of the first type, concerning the parenchyma of the leech, are nutritive, and the vessels of the second type combine capacitance and transport functions and are the place of hemolymph renovation at the expense of an active metabolic and synthetic activity of the endothelial cells. A fact is stated concerning a specific position of mitochondria in the endotheliocytes of the second type vessels: from the vessel's lumen they are not covered with plasmolemma along their whole extent and come into an immediate contact with hemolymph. Therefore, a hypothesis is suggested on functional activity of the endothelial cell mitochondria in the second type vessels. Presumptive differentiation of the two major vessels of the leech body makes it possible to suppose that there exist functional predecessors of the vessels of branchial and pulmonary type, that is vessels of lesser and greater circulation.