Segmental origins of the cricket giant interneuron system

The segmental origins of the cricket giant interneuron system have been studied by staining these neurons with cobalt during the last half of embryonic development. The results demonstrate that the interneurons are derived from three distinct clusters of embryonic neurons that form a serially repeating pattern in each abdominal ganglion. Some of the neurons previously described in adults (Mendenhall and Murphey, '74; Murphey, '85) have been identified in embryos and are described here with respect to this pattern. These neurons include both giant interneurons and several non-giant mechanosensory interneurons that mediate several different sensory modalities. The anatomical organization of this system is compared to similar mechanosensory systems in other insects and crustacea.