Abstract: Glial cells exist throughout the visual system, and play essential roles in various aspects of neural development and function. The type and development of glial cells of larval and pupal visual system in the Chinese honeybee, Apis cerana cerana, were comparatively studied by using tissue anatomy and immunohistochemical method (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, BrdU incorporation). The results show that in the visual system of A. cerana cerana, glial cells are classified into three categories based on the position of their cell bodies and cell morphology, i.e., surface glia, cortex glia, and neuropil glia. The glia have at least two different sources, including the optic stalk and the glial precursor centre (GPC) in the developing optic lobe. The increase in the number of glial cells is most likely due to the migration of glial cells and glial proliferation during postembryonic development. These results lay an essential foundation for studying glia development and function in insect brain.

Key words: Apis cerana cerana, visual system, glia, postembryonic development, BrdU