Summary
External and internal surfaces of the compound eye of the flesh fly, Sarcophaga bullata, were examined with a scanning electron microscope. A low patterned corneal nippleridge array and sparse setiform interfacetal hairs were observed on the corneal lens surface. Particular cleavage planes revealed outlines of the Semper Cells, their nuclei and distal terminations of photoreceptor cells. The latter, with their axonal processes, were visualized and described. These axons were noted traversing the external chiasma and entering the lamina ganglionaris where suggestions of synaptic contact were pointed out. The present descriptions were correlated with those taken from literature of the transmission electron microscope.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernhard, C. G., Gemne, G., Møller, A. G.: Influence on light transmission by variations in insect corneal nipple topography. 1972. In preparation.
— Sällström, J.: Comparative ultrastructure of corneal surface topography in insects with aspects on phylogenesis and function. Z. vergl. Physiol. 67, 1–25 (1970).
— Miller, W. H.: A corneal nipple pattern in insect compound eyes. Acta physiol. scand. 56, 385–385 (1962).
-- -- Møller, A. R.: The insect corneal nipple array. Acta physiol. scand. 63, Suppl. 243, 79 pp. (1965).
Biedler, L. M.: The use of the SEM in sensory biology. Proc. Second Annual Stereoscan Colloquium, p. 109–122. Morton Grove, Ill.: Engis Equipment Co. 1969.
Boschek, C. B.: On the structure and synaptic organization of the first optic ganglion of the fly. Z. Naturforsch. 25b, 560 (1970).
— On the fine structure of the peripheral retina and lamina ganglionaris of the fly, Musca domestica. Z. Zellforsch. 118, 369–409 (1971)
Burkhardt, D.: Spectral sensitivity and other response characteristics of single visual cells in the arthropod eye. Symp. Soc. exp. Biol. 16, 86–109 (1962).
Fernández-Morán, H.: Fine structure of the light receptors in the compound eyes of insects. Exp. Cell Res., Suppl. 5, 586–644 (1958).
Goldsmith, T. H., Philpott, D. E.: The microstructure of the compound eyes of insects. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 3, 429–440 (1957).
Hansson, H. A.: Scanning electron microscopy of the rat retina. Z. Zellforsch. 107, 23–44 (1970).
Kuwabara, T.: Surface structure of the eye tissue. Proc. Third An. SEM Symp., 185–192 (1970).
Lewis, E. R., Everhart, T. E., Zeevi, Y. Y.: Studying neural organization in Aplysia with the scanning electron microscope. Science 165, 1140–1143 (1969a).
— Zeevi, Y. Y., Werblin, F. S.: Scanning electron microscopy of vertebrate visual receptors. Brain Res. 15, 559–562 (1969).
Seitz, G.: Nachweis einer Pupillenreaktion im Auge der Schmeissfliege. Z. vergl. Physiol. 69, 169–185 (1970).
Strausfeld, N. J.: Golgi studies on insects (Part II. The optic lobes of Diptera). Phil. Trans. B 258, 135–223 (1970).
— Braitenberg, V.: The compound eye of the fly (Musca domestica): connections between the cartridges of the lamina ganglionaris. Z. vergl. Physiol. 70, 95–104 (1970).
Trujillo-Cenóz, O.: Some aspects of the structural organization of the arthropod eye. In: Symposium on Quantitative Biology, Cold Spr. Harb. symp. quant. Biol. 30, 371–382 (1965).
— Melamed, J.: Electron microscope observations on the peripheral and intermediate retinas of dipterans. In: The functional organization of the compound eye (ed. C. G. Bernhard) Wenner Gren Center. Internat. Symp. Series, vol. 7, p. 339–361. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1966.
— Light and electronmicroscope study of one of the systems of centrifugal fibers found in the lamina of muscoid flies. Z. Zellforsch. 110, 336–349 (1970).
Wolken, J., Capenos, J., Turano, A.: Photoreceptor structures: III Drosophila melanogaster. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 3, 441–448 (1957).
Yagi, N., Koyama, N.: The compound eye of Lepidoptera. Approach from organic evolution, 319 pp. Tokyo: Shinkyo Press Ltd. 1963.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We are most grateful to Mrs. Mary Fisher for technical assistance. Mr. A. E. Baumhover, Investigations Leader, USDA, ERD, Oxford, N. C. is thanked for supplying Manduca sexta pupae. Research was supported by AFOSR 71-2065 and USPH ITL GM 1076.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carlson, S.D., Larsen, J.R. Scanning electron microscopy of the insect compound eye. Z.Zellforsch 126, 437–445 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306904
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306904