Glial cells in the posterior sub-esophageal mass of the brain in Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) (decapodiformes-sepiida): ultrastructure and cytochemical studies.

Abstract

Electron microscopy revealed that glial cells in the posterior sub-esophageal mass of the brain in Sepia officinalis had a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum formed by long coverslips with rectilinear or curvilinear arrangements. The coverslips appeared dilated and have a large amount of adhered polysomes. Vesicular lamellae coexisted with the elongated lamellae of RER and dictyosomes of Golgi apparatus. Endocytosis was evidenced through the pale vesicles which were appeared next to the apical border of microvilli in some glial cells. Sub-cellular features of endocytosis, predominantly the fluid phase, were observed in the apical glial cell cytoplasm. Glial cells were related to phagocytosis of apoptotic neurons, endocytosis, pinocytosis and adsorption. These functions were proposed based on their ultrastructure characteristics and a significant number of vesicles with different shapes (oval to polygonal), sizes 0.052-0.67 µm and contents. Glycogen, MPS and lipid were detected in the glial cells. Alkaline phosphatase was not observed, while an activity of acid phosphatase was bound to lysosomes. ATPases were present in the glial cells along the lateral and basal plasma lemma as well as on the membranes of cell organelles. Unspecific esterase was clearly recognizable by electron microscopy. The monoamine and cytochrome oxidase activities were demonstrated, while the succinate dehydrogenase showed a weak enzyme activity.