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Morphology and response characteristics of neurones in the deutocerebrum of the brain in the honeybeeApis mellifera

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Summary

Neurones restricted to the deutocerebrum of the brain of the honeybee are examined using intracellular recording and staining techniques and are classified according to their morphological characteristics. Three morphological categories of deutocerebral neurones were identified and their physiological properties are investigated.

  1. 1.

    A non parametric approach is used to provide a general classification of the responses recorded in this study and to compare the response patterns of deutocerebral neurones belonging to different morphological categories. A more detailed analysis is used to investigate trends within and between populations of deutocerebral neurones grouped according to their morphological characteristics, or according to the type of stimulation applied to the animal.

  2. 2.

    None of the cells recorded in this study responded to simple visual stimulation (a light flash). However, many cells responded to one or more of the three forms of antennal stimulation used (a puff of rose scent, a puff of air and a puff of the alarm pheromone isoamylacetate) and certain neurones responded differently to each of these three forms of antennal stimulation. The most common response to all antennal stimuli was an increase in the frequency of action potentials recorded at the onset of the stimulus. Some variation in the response patterns of neurones innervating different regions of the antennal lobe was revealed. However, it was not possible to predict the morphology of deutocerebral neurones based upon their background frequency of action potentials, their response characteristics, or the latency of their responses.

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Abbreviations

AGT :

antenno-glomerular tract

LPTC :

lateral lobe of the protocerebrum

SOG :

suboesophageal ganglion

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Flanagan, D., Mercer, A.R. Morphology and response characteristics of neurones in the deutocerebrum of the brain in the honeybeeApis mellifera . J. Comp. Physiol. 164, 483–494 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00610442

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