Submembrane cytoskeleton of pigmented glial cells, primary pigment cells and crystalline cone cells in the honeybee compound eye

Abstract

The organization of the submembrane cytoskeleton of non-photoreceptive, accessory cells in the honeybee compound eye was examined using light-microscopic (phallotoxin labeling, immunohistochemistry) and electron-microscopic (decoration with myosin fragments) techniques. The crystalline cone cells contain numerous peripheral actin filaments oriented longitudinally with antiparallel polarity. Bundles of microtubules lie under the plasma membrane of primary pigment cells, in close apposition to the crystalline cone; they are interspersed with only a few actin filaments. Pigmented glial cells (secondary pigment cells) contain a two-dimensional filament/particle web lining their entire plasma membranes. Both filamentous actin and α-spectrin are localized within the cortex of these cells, indicating that they are web components. The results demonstrate that the three cell types contain different cortical cytoskeletons, implying different functional properties.