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Structure and development of the larval central complex in a holometabolous insect, the beetle Tenebrio molitor

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Summary

The neuroarchitecture of the central complex, a prominent neuropil in the midbrain of the holometabolan, Tenebrio molitor, is described throughout larval development. The analysis is based on classical silver impregnations and on fate-mapping of identified neurons using antisera against serotonin and FMRF-amide. In T. molitor, the central body is present in the first larval instar, and is formed by side branches of contralaterally projecting neurons. Glial cells surround eight neuropil compartments in the first larval instar. These subdivisions in the organization of the fan-shaped body are maintained throughout development. Intrinsic interneurons are found from the 5th larval instar onwards. In the last larval stage, the central complex consists of the fan-shaped body, the protocerebral bridge, and the anlage of the ellipsoid body. The cellular architecture of the fan-shaped body of the last larval instar resembles the basic structural characteristics of the adult. Serotonin-immunoreactive neurons and FMRF-amide immunoreactive neurons in the midbrain of the first larval instar show the basic structural features of the respective imaginal cells. The structural organizations of larval and adult midbrain are compared.

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Abbreviations

a :

Anterior

AGT :

antenno-glomerular tract

aL :

α-lobus

AL :

antennal lobe

AP :

anterior protocerebrum

bL :

β-lobe

BSN :

bilateral symmetrical

FMRF:

amide-immunopositive neurons

CA :

calyx

CL1-CL4 :

serotonin-immunopositive neurons cluster 1–4

d :

dorsal

DAB :

diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride

DC :

dorsal commissure

DCFB :

dorsal commissure of the fan-shaped body

DHT :

dorsal horizontal tract

DLTR :

dorsal lateral triangle

DMLP :

dorsal medial lateral protocerebrum

DN :

serotonin-immunopositive deuterocerebral neuron

EB :

ellipsoid body

en1, en2 :

extrinsic neurons connecting two FB-subcompartments

esn :

extrinsic subcompartmental neuron

l :

lateral

FB :

fan-shaped body

FN :

serotonin-immunopositive fan-shaped neuron

fs1, fs2 :

fanshaped neurons of type 1 and 2

GC :

great commissure

HF :

horizontal fibres

in :

intrinsic neuron connecting two FB-subcompartments

isn :

intrinsic subcompartmental neuron

IT :

isthmus tract

LF :

large-field neurons

LFASC :

lateral fascicle

LMFASC :

lateral median fascicle

MB :

median bundles

MLP :

medial lateral protocerebrum

p :

posterior

P :

pedunculus

PB :

protocerebral bridge

pb-fb :

protocerebral bridge-fan-shaped body connection

PBS :

phosphate-buffered saline

PDC :

posterio-dorsal commissure

PTX :

phosphate-buffered saline containing Triton X-100

SU :

suboesophageal ganglion

SVT :

small ventral triangles

TN 1,2 :

tritocerebral serotonin-immunoreactive neuron 1,2

v :

ventral

VB :

ventral body

VBC :

ventral body commissure

VCBC :

ventral central body commissure

VCFB :

ventral commissure of the fan-shaped body

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  1. Institut für Angewandte Zoologie, An der Immenburg 1, W-5300, Bonn 1, Germany

    Rainer Wegerhoff & Olaf Breidbach

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  1. Rainer Wegerhoff
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  2. Olaf Breidbach
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Wegerhoff, R., Breidbach, O. Structure and development of the larval central complex in a holometabolous insect, the beetle Tenebrio molitor . Cell Tissue Res 268, 341–358 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318803

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