Microanatomical Structure of Nervous System and Sense Organ of Catopsilia pomona (Fabricius, 1758)

Abstract

          Basic anatomical and histological structures of nervous system and sense organ of pierid butterfly, Catopsilia pomona (Fabricius, 1758) were investigated. Alive specimens were exclusively collected in four mouths during January to April 2014 within the area of the Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University (Talay Kaew campus). The results revealed that the structure of anatomy of nervous system was consisted of brain and ganglia. Its brain was contained within the skull (head capsule) which was connected to the ganglia along the ventral zone of the body. The ganglia consisted of five ganglia including two thoracic ganglia (pro- and mesothorcic ganglia) and three abdominal ganglia. Based on histological analysis, the basic characteristics of brain tissue and ganglia were similarly observed that could be divided into two regions i.e., inner medular and outer cortex. The outer cortex contained three main types of cell based on size and histological characterization namely, neurosecretory cell, neuron and neuroglia. Among their cells, neurosecertory cell was the highest in size. Basophilic nucleus with surrounding the eosinophilic cytoplasm was observed in this cell. The compound eye as well as sensory organ was comprised of the multiple functional units, called facets or ommatidia. Each ommatidium was consisted of corneal lens (curve outward) on the top that linked to crysytaline tract, rhabdom or rhabdomeres. The nerves of receptor apparatus or retinula cells are connected to the optic lobe of protocerebrum.