The morphology and ultrastructure of antennal lobe cells from pupal honeybees (Apis mellifera) growing in culture

A culture technique for the in vitro growth and differentiation of antennal lobe cells from the honeybee, Apis mellifera, is described and the ultrastructure of the growing cells is analysed. Two types of cell are present in the cultures and from their morphology and ultrastructure they can be identified as glial cells and neurones. The neurones have a granular cytoplasm, abundant endoplasmic reticulum and a small, densely stained nucleus. They produce long processes with varicosities that contain dense-core and clear vesicles. In contrast the glial cells have clear cytoplasm, little endoplasmic reticulum and a distinct cytoskeletal organisation. These cells produce short, flat processes that spread over the surface of the culture dish. Although a number of cell contacts have been identified in the cultures no synapses have yet been seen. These cultures provide a good in vitro model for an analysis of the interactions between cells derived from the antennal lobe of the honey bee.