Neuroplasmic transport in the nervous system of the cockroach Periplaneta americana

Abstract Neuroplasmic transport phenomena were studied in the nervous system of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana . For proteins, at least two major rates of movement can be resolved by liquid scintillation counting of incorporated C 14 ‐labelled amino acids in serial slices of nerve cord. The slower of the two rates is 1−2 mm/day and appears identical to the “slow” flow well documented for vertebrate neurons. Evidence for an even faster movement is presented. The suitability of the cockroach nerve cord as a model system for the study of the mechanism and control of the movement of the neuroplasmic constituents is discussed.