Intracellular inclusions in the gut epithelial cells of Piesma cinereum Say.

Intracellular inclusions in the epithelial cells of the midgut of Piesma cinereum (Hemiptera) are described. Three types of inclusions have been observed in both viruliferous and "virus-free" insects. Two of them, alpha and beta, are free in the cytoplasm and are of two different basic configurations: one exhibits bilateral symmetry, the other a fivefold radial symmetry. Still another type of inclusion is contained in membrane-bounded bodies and consists of elongate, irregularly shaped crystals. A description of the structure of the inclusions is given and their nature and significance are discussed.