Anatomy and electrophysiology of individual neurosecretory cells of an insect brain.

Abstract

The structure and electrophysiological properties of individual neurosecretory cells of the pars intercerebralis, medial neurosecretory cells (MNSCs), in the brain of an insect, the cricket Teleogryllus commodus, were investigated by means of intracellular injections of the dye Lucifer Yellow and electrophysiological recordings. Action potentials recorded from these cells were of long duration, 8-50 msec. In the pars intercerebralis there are both neurosecretory cells with axons that join one of the tracts of the nervi corpori cardiaci I (NCC I) and cells without an axon or collateral that leaves the brain, local neurosecretory cells. MNSCs with axons that join NCC I and terminate in the anterior corpus cardiacum arborize extensively in the protocerebrum and to a lesser degree in the deutocerebrum. Other MNSCs have axons that pass through the corpus cardiacum and hypocerebral ganglion and join one of the oesophageal nerves. These MNSCs have sparse collateral arborizations in the protocerebrum but do have extensive terminal arborizations in the tritocerebrum. This type of cell is dye-coupled to other MNSCs. Among the local MNSCs, some have an unusual loop shape. These cells branch extensively in the protocerebrum and have massive terminal arborizations in a posterior ventromedial region of the brain. Both the long curved axons of the loop-shaped cells and their ventromedial branches are of large diameter, suitable for storage of neurosecretory material.