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The thoracic ganglia of the grasshopper, Melanoplus differentialis: fine structure of the perineurium and neuroglia with special reference to the intracellular distribution of phosphatases

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Summary

The thoracic ganglia of Melanoplus are encapsulated by a number of consecutive protective sheaths. These include an outer layer of pigment cells, an acellular neural lamella composed partially of collagenous fibres, and an inner perineurium. The perineurial cells contain numerous osmiophilic granules; these are extracted by glutaraldehyde fixation after which the cells have a vacuolated appearance. Beneath the perineurial sheath lies the ganglion proper, in which neuroglial cells ensheath neurones that are arranged peripherally around a central neuropile. The neuroglia consist of attenuated cells with prominent cytoplasmic processes extending around, as well as into, the cytoplasm of the nerve cell bodies. Membrane-delimited dense bodies or “gliosomes” are present in the glial cytoplasm; these appear to be lysosomes for they contain cytochemically demonstrable acid phosphatase activity in incubated sections. These lysosomes differ from those of most vertebrates in that, in addition to hydrolyzing nucleoside monophosphates at acid pH, they also hydrolyze nucleoside diphosphates and triphosphates at neutral pH. Reaction product from adenosine triphosphatase activity is seen in both the glial plasma membrane and in the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, as is reaction product due to thiamine diphosphatase. This enzymatic activity in the membranes of the glial cells provides a useful way of “marking” the cells for both light and electron microscopy. The possible signifcance of membrane-associated phosphatase activity in a cell whose function appears to be at least in part trophic, is discussed.

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  1. Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Nancy J. Lane

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  1. Nancy J. Lane
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This investigation was supported by a research grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM 12,427) awarded to Dr. J. G. Gall. I am grateful to Dr. A. B. Novikoff for critically reading the manuscript.

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Lane, N.J. The thoracic ganglia of the grasshopper, Melanoplus differentialis: fine structure of the perineurium and neuroglia with special reference to the intracellular distribution of phosphatases. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 86, 293–312 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00332471

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