The fine structure of the compound eye and optic lobe of thetwo-spotted cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

Author of the article:NA Yu-Peng1** LENG Xue2 NA Jie1, 3***

Author's Workplace：1. Laboratory for Brain Function and Cognitive Science, Shenyang 110034, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for TCM Viscera-State Theory and Applications, Ministry of Education of China,Shenyang 110032, China; 3. College of Chemistry & Life Sciences, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, China

Key Words：Gryllus bimaculatus, compound eyes, optic lobe, histological structure

Abstract：

 [Objectives]  To investigate the important neural structures of insect visual signal processing by observing and describing the histological structural features of the compound eyes and optic lobes of the cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). [Methods]  The histological structure of the compound eye and optic lobe of 30 crickets was observed and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and histological biopsy techniques. [Results]  The compound eye was comprised of about    3 400 small hexagonal eyes. In the gaps between the small eyes, there are mechanoreceptors, which are sensory hair and bell-shaped receptors. Each small eye is comprised of a cornea, crystalline cone, rhabdome, 6 retinal cells and basement membrane, etc. The optic lobe has two fan-shaped structures and is comprised of three major networks of nerve fibers, the ganglion layer, outer medulla and inner medulla. [Conclusion]  There are a few sensory hairs and bell-shaped receptors on the surface of the compound eyes of crickets. Each small eye is comprised of a cornea, crystalline cone, rhabdome, 6 retinal cells, basement membrane, etc. and the arrangement of small eyes is juxtaposed. The optic lobe is comprised of three major networks of nerve fibers.