Insect frontal ganglion: fine structure of its neurosecretory cells in diapause and non-diapause larvae of Diatraea grandiosella

The fine structure of the neurosecretory (NS) cells of the frontal ganglion (FG) of diapause and non-diapause mature larvae of the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella, was compared. Two large (15- to 20-μm diam) NS cells are typically found in each FG. Their cytoplasm stained deeply purple with paraldehyde fuchsin and contained granules 1500–2500 Å in diameter. The granules in the NS cells of non-diapause larvae were often associated with Golgi bodies whereas those of the diapause larvae were associated with dilated cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum. Fewer Golgi bodies were observed in sections of NS cells of the FG of diapause larvae than in those of non-diapause larvae. Sections prepared from diapause larvae obtained conventionally by exposure to low temperatures, and experimentally by treatment with a juvenile hormone mimic, gave similar results.Our findings show that granules accumulate in the perikaryon of the NS cells of the FG of diapause larvae and suggest that the granular endoplasmic reticulum is involved in their formation. The shutdown of the transport of these NS granules from the FG appears to be a factor in some yet to be determined phase of the neuroendocrine regulation of diapause.