Not Just an empty cavity: the inter-rhabdomeral space in the Jamaican cavefly Neoditomyia farri (Diptera, Mycetophilidae).
Contrary to most other Diptera, the inter-rhabdomeral spaces of the retina of the Jamaican cavefly Neoditomya farri are filled neither by extracellular matrix nor dense cytoplasmic material. Instead, a foamy organization of loose vacuoles, measuring approximately 0.7 microm in diameter, appears to keep the rhabdomeres of retinula cells 7 and 8 in place. The vacuoles are bounded by membranes and traces of actin, determined immunocytochemically, are present. The origin of the vacuoles is unclear, but evidence in support of a retinula cell rather than cone cell origin is advanced.
Meyer-Rochow
Benno V
BV
Faculty of Engineering and Science, International University Bremen, Germany. b.meyer-rochow@iu-bremen.de
Yang
Mouyu Helen
MH
D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007563:Jamaica; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000166:cytology*; D014617:Vacuoles