Cytoplasmic structures in the ganglion cells of certain Orthoptera, with special reference to the Golgi bodies, mitochondria, ‘vacuome,’ intracellular trabeculae (trophospongium), and neurofibrillae

The Golgi bodies of the nerve cells of the grasshopper are discrete elements composed of an osmiophilic cortex and an osmiophobic medulla. When seen in face, they appear ring‐like, semicircular, or crescentic. The osmiophilic portion is interpreted as the homologue of the classical Golgi apparatus and may under certain conditions be dissolved away, leaving clear spaces homologous to the canalicular apparatus (negative image of Golgi apparatus). When the osmiophilic portion is dissolved, the osmiophobic portion remains as a definite structure which apparently has no homologue in the classical Golgi apparatus. The mitochondria are granular, rod‐like, or filamentous and show no transformation into Golgi bodies. Neutral‐red bodies (‘vacuome’) of two kinds have been observed, neither of which is a constant preformed structure or has any relationship to the Golgi bodies. Prolongations of the capsule (trophospongium?) of the nerve cell penetrate into the cell approximately one‐third the distance to the nucleus. These are interpreted as supportive rather than nutritive in function. A basket‐like net of neurofibrillae surrounds the nucleus. It is suggested that the networks described as Golgi apparatus in certain invertebrate nerve cells may really consist of these neurofibrillae. The conclusion of Parat that Golgi material consists either of mitochondria or ‘vacuome’ is rejected. The idea that all structures in the living cell which stain with neutral red (‘vacuome’) are homologous is also rejected.