Fine structure of a sensory organ in the arista of Drosophila melanogaster and some other dipterans.

The arista, a characteristic appendage of dipteran antennae, consists of 2 short segments at the base and a long distal shaft. A small sensory ganglion, from which arises the aristal nerve, is located proximally in the shaft. The fine structure of the aristal sensory organ was studied in detail in the fruitfly (Drosophila) and for comparison in the housefly (Musca) and the blowfly (Calliphora). In Drosophila, the aristal sense organ consists of 3 identical sensilla that terminate in the hemolymph space of the aristal shaft, and not in an external cuticular apparatus. Each sensillum comprises 2 bipolar neurons and 2 sheath cells; a third sheath cell envelops the somata of all six neurons of the ganglion. The neurons have long slender dendrites with the usual subdivision into an inner and an outer segment. One of the outer segments is highly lamellated and bears small particles (BOSS-structures) on the outside of its cell membrane; the other outer segment is unbranched and has a small diameter. The fine structure of the first dendrite is strongly reminiscent of thermoreceptors known from the antennae of other insects. These thermoreceptors are often coupled with hygroreceptors; however, we can only speculate whether the second dendrite of the aristal organ also has this function. Our present results argue against mechanoreceptive functions, as formerly postulated. The aristal sense organs in Musca and Calliphora are similar to those in Drosophila, but contain more sensilla (12 in Musca, 18 in Calliphora.

Structure and postnatal development of photoreceptors and their synapses in the retina of the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri).

The "all cone" retina of the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) was examined in the adult and early postnatal stages by light and electron microscopy. Rods are not as rare as previously thought, but make up about 4% of the photoreceptors. They are relatively short and narrow cells, which stain (toluidine blue) more intensively and lie more proximal than cones. Among the cones three morphological varieties could be distinguished. Most cones stain lightly but have a light or a dark giant mitochondrion in their inner segment; a third type stains darker but occurs only rarely. All cones possess extensive radial processes ("lateral fins") around the basal part of their inner segments. Such fins are well known from reptiles and birds, but have only once been described in a mammal (gray squirrel). The maturation of the retina in Tupaia belangeri proceeds centrifugally, i.e., from the vitreal to the scleral side, as in most mammals. A few synapses are already present at birth in the outer and inner plexiform layers, but seem to be more advanced in the latter. Such early synapses are small and have only few synaptic vesicles; they appear almost mature by day 14. The light-sensitive outer segments develop last. The first disks are seen by day 10, but regular membrane stacks are only present by day 18. Thus, it seems that the retina is functional when the young first open their eyes, which occurs around day 18.

Giant neurons and associated synapses in the peripheral nervous system of whip spiders.

Whip spiders (Amblypygi) are arachnids with a specialized first pair of legs. These legs are unusually long (20-25 cm) and are not used for walking. Instead their lengthy tarsi (7-8 cm) are covered with thousands of sensory hairs (mechano- and chemoreceptors). The legs thus resemble antennae of insects. Each sensory hair is associated with 4-40 neurons whose axons are grouped together to form two large tarsal nerves. The nerves contain about 23 000 sensory axons. Whereas most of the axons measure only 0.1-0.2 microns in diameter, a few are exceptionally large (3-20 microns). These are giant fibres. Their large somata are located in specific segments of the tarsi. The branched dendrites of the giant neurons receive hundreds of chemical synapses, presumably from the sensory axons of the hair sensilla. Since stimulation of the tarsal tip elicits fast withdrawal reaction (greater than or equal to 80 ms), it is likely that the giant fibres provide the pathway for the rapid conduction of nerve impulses to the motor centres of the C.N.S. The system is comparable to the giant fibre system of certain insects. In contrast, however, the giant interneurons and associated synapses of whip spiders are not located in the C.N.S., but lie some 20 cm removed in the periphery. Thus, some primary sensory information already becomes processed in the peripheral nervous system, before it reaches the C.N.S.

Helically twisted filaments in giant neurons of a whip spider.

In giant neurons of whip spider legs several filament types are detectable: filaments of 5 to 6 nm thickness as dense masses within the soma of the neuron, an intermediate-sized filament type limited to the dendritic processes forming irregularly wound bundles and finally twisted double filaments in the soma as well as in peripheral regions. The latter are usually aggregated in paracristalloid lattices of different length and diameter.

Fine structure of a spider joint receptor and associated synapses.

The fine structure of a joint receptor (R10) in a spider leg (Zygiella x-notata) was examined with light and electron microscopy. The R10 receptor consists of a compact ganglion which is situated near the dorsal joint membrane of the femur/patella joint. Each of the ten sensory cells comprising the ganglion sends one branching dendrite into the hypodermis underlying the joint membrane. All dendritic branches together form a sheet-like meshwork 50 microns wide and 1 microns thick, which is traversed obliquely by hypodermis cells. When the joint is stretched shearing forces are apparently transmitted to the receptive dendritic branches via microtubular bundles inside the hypodermis cells. The soma and dendrites of the sensory cells receive numerous synaptic input from presumably efferent fibres. The fine structure of these synapses is described and compared with other peripheral and central spider synapses. All R10 synapses contain small synaptic vesicles (32 nm diameter), whereas motor endplates possess large vesicles (38 nm). Central synapses have two significantly different vesicle populations which are either of the small or large variety. Since synapses with small vesicles are supposedly inhibitory, receptor cells in spiders might be under efferent control. Such a system is unknown in insects or crustaceans, but may be typical for arachnids.

Some aspects of synaptogenesis in the spinal cord of the chick embryo: a quantitative electron microscopic study.

We have quantitatively examined the development of synapses in the ventral part of the lumbar spinal cord of the chick from embryonic day 4 until adulthood. The first synapses occur on day 4 and are of the axo-dendritic type; they are invariably located adjacent to the border between the intermediate and marginal zones. Initially there are more synapses in the presumptive white matter than in the motoneuron neuropil, but this trend is later reversed; however, we found numerous axo-dendritic synapses throughout much of the ventrolateral white matter even in the adult stage. The first axo-dendritic synapses always contain spherical synaptic vesicles and have symmetric membrane specilizations. By day 7 a few of these synapses were found to have mixed populations of spherical and flattened vesicles and asymmetric membrane specilizations. After hatching there are still considerably more axo-dendritic synapses with symmetric membrane specializations. Axo-somatic synapses were first found on embryonic day 6 and were typically located on motoneurons lying adjacent to the marginal zone. These axo-somatic synapses contain a few spherical synaptic vesicles and have symmetric membrane densities. Flattened synaptic vesicles were first found on day 10 and increased throughout development. Although a few axo-somatic synapses with asymmetric membrane specializations were found at practically all stages, the symmetric type was always in the majority. An attempt was made to relate these observations with physiological, behavioral and neuroembryological findings from birds and other forms. For example, the fact that axo-dendritic synapses always appear prior to axo-somatic contacts would seem to rule out the role of somatic synapsesin the initial induction of dendritic growth in the spinal cord.

Fine structure of tarsal sensory organs in the whip spider Admetus pumilio (Amblypygi, Arachnida).

The sensory organs on the tarsi of the antenniform first legs of the whip spider Admetus pumilio C. L. Koch (Amblypygi, Arachnida) were examined with the scanning and transmission electron microscope. At least four different types of hair sensilla were found: (1) thick-walled bristles, which have the characteristics of contact chemoreceptors (several chemoreceptive dendrites in the lumen plus two mechanoreceptors at the base); (2) short club sensilla, innervated by 4-6 neurons which terminate in a pore on the tip; they are possibly humidity receptors; (3) porous sensilla, which are either innervated by 20-25 neurons and have typical pore tubules, or they have 40-45 neurons but no pore tubules; both types are considered to be olfactory; (4) rod sensilla occur in clusters near segmental borders; they are innervated by only one large dendrite which branches inside the lumen. Other tarsal receptors are the claws, which correspond to contact chemoreceptors, and the pit organ which resembles the tarsal organ of spiders. Compared to other arthropod sensilla, the contact chemoreceptors are very similar to those of spiders, while the porous sensilla correspond structurally to olfactory receptors in insects; the club and rod sensilla seem to be typical for amblypygids.

Maternal behavior in wolf spiders: the role of abdominal hairs.

Newly emerged, juvenile wolf spiders do not settle on clothed or shaved areas of their mother's abdomen until after a period of days. Spiny, knobbed hairs, peculiar to adult female lycosids, apparently provide the stimulus and means for attachment by the inner layer of spiderlings. Innervated long, smooth hairs are mechanoreceptors which probably serve in other aspects of brood care.

Permeability of tarsal sensilla in the tick Amblyomma americanum L. (Acarina, Ixodidae).

Ticks were submerged in silver-protein solution, prior to fixation for electron microscopy, in order to trace the pathway of molecules in supposed tarsal chemoreceptors. Sensilla with radially arranged cuticular canals (100-200 A in diameter) leading to the centrally located dendrites show silver granules inside the canals and in the central lumen, thus directly making contact with the dendrites. Sensilla with large, plugged pores (1200 A) exhibit an accumulation of silver granules in the pore openings but no granules (about 50 A in diameter) were observed penetrating into the lumen. Apparently silver granules could diffuse in, but not through the material which suspends the pore plugs. It is suggested that this material corresponds to the 'pore tubules' in insect olfactory sensilla and that it may play an essential role in transmitting a chemical stimulus from the environment to the dendrites.

Some morphological aspects of the innervation of a spider's silk gland.

A structure in the ampullate silk gland of an orb-weaving spider, previously thought to be a pressure receptor, was studied by electron microscopy to clarify its sensory function. This lamellated 'bulbous region' is situated between the gland and the beginning duct, which consists of a layered, acellular matrix (muco-protein), surrounded by a flat epithelium and partly covered by connective tissue. The epithelial cells are densely filled by a mesh-work of microtubules and interconnected by extensive cell junctions, both indicating exposure to mechanical stress. The few nerve fibres found to supply the bulbous region do not exhibit specialized dendritic endings and provide no evidence for a receptor function. The abundance of translucent vesicles of 400-500 A (synaptic'?) and dense granules of 1000-1500 A (neurosecretory?) indicate efferent fibres, possibly controlling the secretion of the matrix. The function of the bulbous region remains to be investigated. Similar nerve fibres but with distinct synaptic foci were noted in the adjacent gland duct in large numbers. The neuro-glandular synapses have a characteristic location, namely, opposing the mesaxon-like invagination of the epidermal cells. These nerve fibres are believed to play a role in water uptake and/or secretion of the extra-cellular duct lining.