Summary
The distribution of putative cholinergic neurons in the lamina of the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala was studied by immunocytochemical and histochemical methods. Three different antibodies directed against the AChsynthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), revealed a cholinergic population of fibres running parallel to the laminar cartridges, which have branch-like structures at the distal lamina border. Cell bodies in the chiasma next to the lamina border were also labelled by the anti-ChAT antibodies. Monopolar cell bodies in the nuclear layer were faintly labelled. The distribution of the acetylcholine hydrolyzing enzyme, acetylcholine esterase (AChE), was revealed by histochemical staining and was similar to the ChAT immunocytochemistry. The arrangement of ChAT positive fibres in transverse and longitudinal sections and the distribution of AChE stained fibres indicate that the amacrine cells of the lamina are cholinergic cells.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boistel J (1968) The synaptic transmission and related phenomena in insects. In: Beament JWL, Treherne JE, Wigglesworth VB (eds) Advances in Insect Physiology. Vol 5. Academic Press, London New York, pp 1–64
Buchner E, Rodrigues V (1984) Autoradiographic localization of (3H)choline uptake in the brain of Drosophila melanogaster. Neurosci Lett 42:25–31
Buchner E, Buchner S, Crawford G, Mason WT, Salvaterra PM, Sattelle DB (1986) Choline acetyltransferase-like immuno-reactivity in the brain of Drosophila melanogaster. Cell Tissue Res 246:57–62
Campos-Ortega JA, Strausfeld NJ (1973) Synaptic connections of intrinsic cells and basket arborizations in the external plexiform layer of the fly's eye. Brain Res 59:119–136
Colhoun EH (1963) The physiological significance of acetylcholine in insects and observations upon other pharmacologically active substances. In: Beament JWL, Treherne JE, Wigglesworth VB (eds) Advances in Insect Physiology. Vol 1. Academic Press, London New York pp 1–45
Datum KH (1987) Immunocytochemischer und elektrophysiologischer Nachweis von Transmittern im Komplexauge von Calliphora erythrocephala. Dissertationsschrift der Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München
Datum KH, Weiler R, Zettler F (1986) Immunocytochemical demonstration of γ-amino butyric acid and glutamate decarboxylase in R7 photoreceptors and C2 centrifugal fibres in the blowfly visual system. J Comp Physiol 159:241–249
Frontali N, Piazza R, Scolopetti R (1971) Localization of acetylcholinesterase in the brain of Periplaneta americana. J Insect Physiol 17:1833–1842
Gerschenfeld HM (1973) Chemical transmission in invertebrate central nervous systems and neuromuscular junctions. Physiol Rev 53:1–119
Gnagey AL, Forte M, Rosenberg TL (1987) Isolation and characterization of acetylcholinesterase from Drosophila. J Biol Chem 262:13290–13298
Gorczyca MG, Hall JC (1987) Immunohistochemical localization of choline acetyltransferase during development and in Chats mutants of Drosophila melanogaster. J Neurosci 7:1361–1369
Greenspan RJ (1980) Mutations of choline acetyltransferase and associated neural defects in Drosophila melanogaster. J Comp Physiol 137:83–92
Greenspan RJ, Finn JA, Hall JC (1980) Acetylcholinesterase mutants in Drosophila and their effects on the structure and function of central nervous system. J Comp Neurol 189:741–774
Hardie RC (1987) Is histamine a neurotransmitter in insect photoreceptor? J Comp Physiol 161:201–215
Hess A (1972) Histochemical localization of cholinesterase in the brain of the cockroach (Periplaneta americana). Brain Res 46:287–295
Israël M, Manaranche R (1985) The release of acetylcholine: From a cellular towards a molecular mechanism. Biol Cell 55:1–14
Johnson CD, Epstein ML (1986) Monoclonal antibodies and polyvalent antiserum to chicken choline acetyltransferase. J Neurochem 46:968–976
Karnovsky MJ, Roots L (1964) A “direct-coloring” thiocholine method for cholinesterases. J Histochem Cytochem 12:219–221
Klemm N (1976) Histochemistry of putative neurotransmitter substances in the insect brain. Prog Neurobiol 7:99–169
Lund AE (1985) Insecticides: Effects on the nervous system. In: Kerkut GA, Gilbert I (eds) Comprehensive Insect Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology vol 11, Pergamon Press, Oxford New York Toronto Sydney Paris Frankfurt, pp 9–56
Lutz EM, Tryrer NM (1987) Immunohistochemical localization of choline acetyltransferase in the central nervous system of the locust. Brain Res 407:173–179
Rudloff E (1978) Acetylcholine receptors in the central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster. Exp Cell Res 111: 185–190
Salvaterra PM, Crawford GD, Klotz JL, Ikeda K (1985) Production and use of monoclonal antibodies to biochemically defined insect neuronal antigens. In: Breer H, Miller TA (eds) Neurochemical Techniques in Insect Research. Springer, New York Berlin Heidelberg, pp 223–242
Schmidt-Nielsen BK, Gepner JI, Teng NNH, Hall LM (1977) Characterization of an α-bungarotoxin binding component from Drosophila melanogaster. J Neurochem 29:1013–1020
Straka H, Zettler F (1988) Effects of transmitter antagonists on monopolar postsynaptic potentials (psp). Naturwissenschaften 75:521–523
Strausfeld NJ, Campos-Ortega JA (1973) The L4 monopolar neurone: A substrate for lateral inhibition in the visual system of the fly Musca domestica (L.). Brain Res 59:97–117
Toutant JP, Arpagaus M, Fournier D (1988) Native forms of head acetylcholinesterase from adult Drosophila melanogaster. tQuaternary structure and hydrophobic character. J Neurochem 50:209–218
Trujillo-Cenoz O (1965) Some aspects of the structural organization of the intermediate retina of dipterans. J Ultrastruct Res 13:1–33
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We dedicate this work to Prof. F. Zettler who passed away in fall 1988: K.-H. Datum, I. Rambold
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Datum, KH., Rambold, I. & Zettler, F. Cholinergic neurons in the lamina ganglionaris of the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala . Cell Tissue Res. 256, 153–158 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224729
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224729