Distribution and specific central projections of mechanoreceptors in the thorax and proximal leg joints of locusts

SummaryThe mechanoreceptive supply of ventral thoracic parts and proximal leg joints of the pro- and metathorax of two locust species has been studied with the help of a modification of the axonal infusion technique with cobaltous chloride, which permits staining of the peripheral nervous system of an entire segment. The number, location, and innervation of serially homologous chordotonal organs (CO), strand receptors (SR), multipolar sensilla (MS), hair plates (HP) and clustered campaniform sensilla (CS) are described, as well as population specific central projections of primary afferent fibers from internal receptors (CO, MS). CO projections tend to form intersegmental projections within the thoracic ganglia, the extent varying with the organ's location. Apart from dorso-lateral collaterals, they terminate mainly in the medioventral neuropile, where they also cross the longitudinal midline of the CNS. By contrast, MS projections stay ipsilateral and do not leave their ganglia, where they send collaterals into all levels of the neuropile.

[1]  R. Snodgrass.  The thoracic mechanism of a grasshopper, and its antecedents , 1929 .

[2]  E. Slifer.  Morphology and development of the femoral chordotonal organs of melanoplus differentialis (orthoptera, acrididae) , 1935 .

[3]  J. Pringle,et al.  Proprioception In Insects: III. The Function Of The Hair Sensilla At The Joints , 1938 .

[4]  J. E. Mcfarlane.  The Morphology of the Chordotonal Organs of the Antenna, Mouthparts and Legs of the Lesser Migratory Grasshopper, Melanoplus mexicanus mexicanus (Saussure) , 1953, The Canadian Entomologist.

[5]  G. Hoyle,et al.  The anatomy and innervation of locust skeletal muscle , 1955, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B - Biological Sciences.

[6]  C. Pantin.  Notes on Microscopical Technique for Zoologists , 1959 .

[7]  R. Pipa,et al.  Studies on the hexapod nervous system II. The histology of the thoracic ganglia of the adult cockroach, periplaneta americana (L.) , 1959, The Journal of comparative neurology.

[8]  Lorna Steinhauer.  THE ANATOMY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM , 1959 .

[9]  C. Rowell.  The Structure and Function of the Prothoracic Spine of the Desert Locust, Schistocerca Gregaria ForskÅl , 1961 .

[10]  J. P. Coillot,et al.  Localisation et description de récepteurs à l'étirement au niveau de l'articulation tibio-fémorale de la patte sauteuse du criquet, Schistocerca gregaria , 1968 .

[11]  P. Usherwood,et al.  Structure and Physiology of a Chordotonal Organ in the Locust Leg , 1968 .

[12]  P. Usherwood,et al.  Tarsal Receptors and Leg Reflexes in the Locust and GRASSHOPPER , 1968 .

[13]  A. Spurr.  A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. , 1969, Journal of ultrastructure research.

[14]  S. Banerjee,et al.  The nervous system of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae) with a discussion on muscle innervation , 1971 .

[15]  P. Shepheard.  Musculature and innervation of the neck of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) , 1973, Journal of morphology.

[16]  T. E. May,et al.  Studies on locust neuromuscular physiology in relation to glutamic acid. , 1974, The Journal of experimental biology.

[17]  M. Burns.  Structure and physiology of the locust femoral chordotonal organ. , 1974, Journal of insect physiology.

[18]  G. E. Gregory.  Neuroanatomy of the mesothoracic ganglion of the cockroach Periplaneta americana (L.). I. The roots of the peripheral nerves. , 1974, Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences.

[19]  E. Slifer,et al.  The femoral chordotonal organs of a grasshopper, orthoptera, acrididae , 1975, Journal of neurocytology.

[20]  J. S. Altman,et al.  A silver intensification method for cobalt-filled neurones in wholemount preparations , 1977, Brain Research.

[21]  F. Varela,et al.  Evidence for active role of cilia in sensory transduction. , 1977, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[22]  J. Altman,et al.  The locust wing hinge stretch receptors. II. Variation, alternative pathways and “mistakes” in the central arborizations , 1977, The Journal of comparative neurology.

[23]  M. Burns,et al.  Multiterminal receptors in the locust mesothoracic leg , 1978 .

[24]  W. J. Heitler,et al.  Variability of identified neurons in grasshoppers , 1979 .

[25]  M. K. Shaw,et al.  Input synapses on to a locust sensory neurone revealed by cobalt-electron microscopy , 1980, Brain Research.

[26]  P. Bräunig,et al.  Proprioceptors with central cell bodies in insects , 1980, Nature.

[27]  Ulrich Bässler,et al.  Effects of crossing the receptor apodeme of the femoral chordotonal organ on walking, jumping and singing in locusts and grasshoppers , 1979, Journal of comparative physiology.

[28]  R. Hustert,et al.  Segmental and interganglionic projections from primary fibres of insect mechanoreceptors , 1978, Cell and Tissue Research.

[29]  J. Bacon,et al.  Sensory projections from the wind-sensitive head hairs of the locust Schistocerca gregaria , 1979, Cell and Tissue Research.

[30]  D. Moran,et al.  Ultrastructure of the grasshopper proximal femoral chordotonal organ , 1975, Cell and Tissue Research.

[31]  U. Bässler,et al.  Zur Regelung der Stellung des femur-Tibia-Gelenkes im Mesothorax der Wanderheuschrecke Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) , 1978, Biological Cybernetics.

[32]  M. Burns,et al.  A muscle tension receptor in the locust leg , 1979, Journal of comparative physiology.