Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, Vol s3-98, 65-77, Copyright © 1957 by Company of Biologists

Cytoplasmic Inclusions of the Neurones of Gastropods

¹ Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Hoshiarpur, India

The neurones of the sub-oesophageal ganglionic mass of the Simla slug, Anadenus altivagus, and the Bharwain snail, Euaustenia cassida, have been investigated by phasecontrast microscopy of the living cells and in fixed preparations. The mitochondria are seen as granules and filaments in both living and fixed material. Alignment of granules into filamentous mitochondria has also been observed in the fixed preparations. The lipid spheroids (corresponding to the ‘binary spheroids’ of Thomas and the ‘lipochondria’ of Roque) are sudanophil, osmiophil, and argentophil. The bigger spheroids show a duplex structure, consisting of a cortical, chromophil, lipid component, which may be in the form of a complete ring (Anadenus) or in the form of one or two granules or a crescent (Anadenus and Euaustenia), and a chromophobe medulla (neutral red vacuome of Parat), in which lipochrome develops to form the ‘mulberry spheroids’ of Thomas. The small homogeneous lipid spheroids also contribute to the formation of ‘mulberry spheroids’.