Abstract: The characteristics of glial patterns during postembryonic in mushroom body of the honeybee Apis cerana cerana were studied based on the method of anatomy and immunohistochemistry (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, BrdU immunostaining). The results indicated that glial cells are involved in several functions during the development of the nervous system in the honeybee. In the early larva, a continuous layer of glial cell bodies defines the boundaries of all growing neuropiles. Initially, the neuropiles develop in the absence of any intrinsic glial somata. In the secondary process, glial cells migrate into defined locations in the neuropiles. The combined data from the three brain regions suggest that glial cells can prepattern the neuropilar boundaries and guidance structures for migrating neurons or outgrowing axons. The corresponding increase in the number of neuropile-associated glial cells is most likely due to massive immigrations of glial cells from the cell body rind using neuronal fibres as guidance cues.

Key words: Apis cerana cerana, mushroom body, postembryonic development, glial cell