Electrically excitable nerve cell bodies in the central ganglia of two insect species Periplaneta americana and Schistocerca gregaria. Investigation of cell geometry and morphology by intracellular dye injection

Intrasomatic recordings were made from nerve cell bodies in the central ganglia of the cockroach and locust and the electrical excitability of the cell bodies was tested and all the cells had bifurcating axons which innervated both sides of the ganglion.

Abstract

1. Intrasomatic recordings were made from nerve cell bodies in the central ganglia of the cockroach and locust and the electrical excitability of the cell bodies was tested. 2. Dorsally situated cell bodies from the ganglia of both animals were electrically excitable, giving overshooting action potentials of up to 110 mV. 3. Ventrally situated cell bodies were electrically inexcitable but gave small action potentials of up to 40 mV. 4. Electrically excitable cockroach cell bodies were filled with Procion Yellow and their axon branches were mapped out. 5. All the cells had bifurcating axons which innervated both sides of the ganglion. 6. Some cells sent axons out of the ganglion in peripheral nerve trunks.