Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, Vol s3-97, 75-82, Copyright © 1956 by Company of Biologists

Neurosecretory Cells of the Central Nervous System of the Crab, Paratelphusa hydrodromous

¹ Department of Zoology, University College, Trivandrum, S. India

Three types of neurosecretory cells, designated A, B, and C, occur in the central nervous system of Paratelphusa hydrodromous. They are distinguishable by their sizes, the nature of their nuclei, and the secretory products in the cytoplasm. Their distribution and neurosecretory activity are recorded in this paper. All the three types occur in the thoracic ganglion, while the brain and tritocerebral connective ganglia contain only the A and B types. Examined alive under the phase-contrast microscope, the conspicuous A-cells reveal the presence of numerous tiny granules and dark spheroids in the cytoplasm. These spheroids are stainable by neutral red. In Golgi preparations the spheroid walls become black. These are sudanophil and probably represent lipochondria. The spheroids contain phospholipid and vitamin C. The granules of the cytoplasm probably represent the mitochondria.

The brain and thoracic ganglia contain within them a rich network of delicate capillaries which surround individual neurosecretory cells as well as groups of cells. The secretory products are possibly discharged directly into the blood.