The Organization of the Nervous System in the Crayfish Procambarus Clarkii, with Emphasis on the Blood-brain Interface

Central neural connectives and peripheral nerves of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii are surrounded by an acellular neural lamella, beneath which lies a layer of specialised glia, the perineurium. Cell process of the connective perineurium interdigitate extensively, and are frequently closely associated with each other by gap junctions. Occasional zonulae occludentes are encountered. Nerve perineurium, however, is much less elaborate, and may be reduced to a single or incomplete cell layer. In both connective and nerve, the perineurium appears involved in the formation of the collagen-like fibrils of the neural lamella. The comparative fine structure of connective and peripheral nerve correlates well with recent experimental studies in crayfish, where it was concluded that the perineurium in connective but not nerve offers some restriction to diffusion of small ions and molecules. Within the connective, deeper glia re either closely associated with axons (Schwann cells) or lie relatively free in the extracellular space. Cytoplasmic process of both cell types possess "tubular lattice" systems, which are especially elaborate in the Schwann cells. The extracellular space contains a flocculent material and bundles of collagen, together with layers of basal lamina-like material. The physiological implications of the observations are discussed.