spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by McLAUGHLIN, B. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by McLAUGHLIN, B. J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

Journal of Cell Science, Vol 14, 369-387, Copyright © 1974 by Company of Biologists

Submitted on June 20, 1973

Fine-Structural Changes in a Lepidopteran Nervous System During Metamorphosis

BARBARA J. McLAUGHLIN 1

1 ARC Unit of Invertebrate Chemistry and Physiology, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, England; Division of Neurosciences, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, California 91010, U.S.A.

The fine structure of the metamorphosing abdominal nerve cord of Manduca sexta has been studied. In fifth instar larvae, the connectives are ensheathed by a complex, thickened neural lamella. The underlying perineurium at this stage consists of 2 layers. The outer layer consists of interdigitating type I cells which are attached to the overlying neural lamella by hemidesmosomes, and to each other by occasional gap and tight junctions which persist throughout development. They are attached by desmosomes to a thin underlying type II cell layer, which is joined by gap and tight junctions and which has desmosomal attachments with the underlying glial membranes. The larval axons are surrounded by multiple glial wrappings containing bundles of microtubules. During the first week after larval-pupal ecdysis, the neural lamella degenerates and is phagocytosed by invading haemocytes. The underlying perineurial I cells gradually become hypertrophied and vacuolated. At the same time the type II layer, which does not increase in size, appears to be composed of either one or two cells which form a continuous ‘bracelet’ around each connective. The cellular bracelet is joined at one or two places by extensive gap, tight and septate junctions, and gap junctions are also seen along its perineurial I and glial borders. The underlying axons are embedded in vast amounts of glial cytoplasm containing relatively few microtubules. During the second week after larval-pupal ecdysis, the neural lamella is reformed and the perineurium flattens again. Type I and II cell junctions remain as described in earlier stages. Before adult emergence, the axons are again wrapped by glial cells rich in microtubules.

Submitted on June 20, 1973


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?




© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1974