The paramedial neurosecretory cells of the suboesophageal ganglion in the cricket,Teleogryllus commodus (Walk.)

Summary The paramedian neurosecretory cells (PNC) (A-type) in the suboesophageal ganglion of the cricket, Teleogryllus commodus (Walk.), have been studied by electron microscopy. In control animals (10 day-old virgin females) three different cell stages could be distinguished: Stage 1 shows a variable content of elementary granules and characteristics of actively synthesising cells. Stage 2 is characterised by the presence of numerous fusion bodies, which are formed by the coalescence of elementary granules, presumably for storage purposes. In stage 3 granules are degraded in lysosomes (?). While the production of material rich in cysteine increases after ovariectomy (Dürnberger et al., 1978), the fine structure of the cells is essentially unchanged. The only noted differences are an increased lysosomal synthetic activity and the existence of stages intermediate between 2 and 3, which were never found in control animals. The functional significance of the different stages is discussed.