SURFACE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF OLFACTORY RECEPTOR SENSE HAIRS IN THE SILKMOTH, ANTHERAEA-PERNYI

The fine structure of silkmoth sense hair surfaces has been investigat ed by freeze etching with Pt/C rotary shadowing. To do this, the hydro phobic layer in the cuticle was removed using 20-25% methanol or ethan ol. Freeze-etch patterns of sense hair surfaces, as well as the pore s tructure and pore distribution, are shown. The hair surface has a nonh elical 'band' structure, in which every 'band' lies at an oblique angl e with respect to the axis of the hair. Each 'band' is separated from its neighbour by a 30-nm step. The average density of pores is 11.3 +/ - 2.4 pores mu m(-2). Freeze-etch patterns of the single and multiple pore tubules are shown. Evidence for direct contact between the pore t ubule and dendrite membrane of an olfactory receptor neuron is present ed.