LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDIES ON THE LIGHT ORGAN OF THE FIREFLY (PHOTINUS PYRALIS)

1. The following structures were observed in the light microscope preparations of the firefly light organ: photogenic layer, reflector layer, photogenic granules, urate granules, transverse tracheae, tracheae, cylinders, tracheal twigs, tracheal end cells, tracheal end bulbs, tracheoles which extend between the photogenic cells, cuticle, differentiated outer layer of the photogenic cells, mitochondria in tracheal end cells and in differentiated outer layer of photogenic cells.2. Urate granules were revealed in the electron micrographs to be of about the same density as the surrounding cytoplasm. Vacuoles which may be due to fixation artifact, or to a dissolution of material from within the granules, were observed. Filamentous mitochondria with pronounced transverse lamellae were observed lying between the granules of the urate cells.3. Electron micrographs demonstrate, radiating from the centrally located region of the tracheal twig within the end cell, numerous cytoplasmic processes, or villi, that conta...

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