Summary
-
1.
An extracellular recording and staining technique has been used to study the structure of individual ventral-cord elements in the auditory pathway ofLocusta migratoria.
-
2.
Three groups of auditory ventral-cord neurons can be distinguished: (a) neurons ascending to the supraesophageal ganglion, (b) T-shaped neurons, and (c) neurons limited to the thoracic ventral cord.
-
3.
The ventral-cord neurons ascending to the supraesophageal ganglion link the auditory centers of the thorax to those of the supraesophageal ganglion. These are, at least in part, richly arborized neurons of large diameter.
-
4.
The ventral-cord neurons with T structure send equivalent signals along both arms of the T; they resemble the neurons of the first group in that they make synaptic connections in the supraesophageal ganglion, but they also conduct auditory information to caudal regions of the thorax via the descending trunk of the axon.
-
5.
In the supraesophageal ganglion there are several extensive projection areas of the auditory ventral-cord neurons. No direct connections to the mushroom bodies, the central body or the protocerebral bridge could be demonstrated.
-
6.
The thoracic ventral-cord neurons act as “short” segmental interneurons, providing a connection between the tympanal receptor fibers and the ascending and T-shaped ventral-cord neurons. They play a crucial role in auditory information processing.
-
7.
The possible functional properties of the various morphological sections of the auditory ventral-cord neurons are discussed, with reference to their connections with motor and other neuronal systems.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adam, L.-J., Schwartzkopff, J.: Getrennte nervöse Repräsentation für verschiedene Tonbereiche im Protocerebrum vonLocusta migratoria. Z. vergl. Physiol.54, 246–255 (1967)
Burrows, M., Rowell, C.H.F.: Connections between descending visual interneurons and metathoracic motoneurons in the locust. J. comp. Physiol.85, 221–234 (1973)
Callec, J.J., Guillet, J.C., Pichon, Y., Boistel, J.: Further studies on synaptic transmission in insects. II. Relations between sensory information and its synaptic integration at the level of a single giant axoa in the cockroach. J. exp. Biol.55, 123–149 (1971)
Elsner, N., Huber, F.: Neurale Grundlagen artspezifischer Kommunikation bei Orthopteren. Fortschr. Zool.22, 1–48 (1973)
Fink, R.P., Heimer, L.: Two methods for selective silver impregnation of degenerating axons and their synaptic endings in the central nervous system. Brain Res.4, 369–374 (1967)
Horridge, G.A., Burrows, M.: Synapses upon motoneurons of locusts during retrograde degeneration. Phil. Trans. B269, 95–108 (1974)
Iles, J.F., Mulloney, B.: Procion yellow staining of cockroach motoneurons without the use of microelectrodes. Brain Res.30, 397–400 (1971)
Kalmring, K.: Akustische Neuronen im Unterschlundganglion der WanderheuschreckeLocusta migratoria. Z. vergl. Physiol.72, 95–110 (1971)
Kalmring, K.: The afferent auditory pathway in the ventral cord ofLocusta migratoria (Acrididae). I. Synaptic connectivity and information processing among the auditory neurons of the ventral cord. J. comp. Physiol.104, 103–141 (1975)
Kalmring, K., Rheinlaender, J., Rehbein, H.G.: Akustische Neuronen im Bauchmark der WanderheuschreckeLocusta migratoria. Z. vergl. Physiol.76, 314–332 (1972a)
Kalmring, K., Rheinlaender, J., Römer, H.: Akustische Neuronen im Bauchmark vonLocusta migratoria. Der Einfluß der Schallrichtung auf die Antwortmuster. J. comp. Physiol.80, 325–352 (1972b)
Michelsen, A.: The physiology of the locust ear. I. Frequency sensitivity of single cells in the isolated ear. Z. vergl. Physiol.71, 49–62 (1971)
Murphey, R.K.: Characterization of an insect neuron which cannot be visualized in situ. In: Intracellular staining in neurobiology (S.B. Kater, C. Nicholson, eds.), pp. 135–150. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1973
O'Shea, M., Rowell, C.H.F., Williams, J.L.D.: The anatomy of a locust visual interneurone; the descending contralateral movement detector. J. exp. Biol.60, 1–12 (1974)
Popov, A.V.: Synaptic transmission at the level of the first synapses of the auditory system inLocusta migratoria. [in Russian.] In: Evolutionary neurophysiology and neurochemistry (E.M. Kreps, ed.), pp. 54–67. Leningrad: Nauka 1967
Potente, A.: Untersuchungen zur Morphologie der cercalen Riesenfasern im Bauchmark vonLocusta migratoria. Staatsexamensarbeit Bochum, 1975
Rehbein, H.G.: Experimentell-anatomische Untersuchungen über den Verlauf der Tympanalnervenfasern im Bauchmark von Feldheuschrecken, Laubheuschrecken und Grillen. Verh. dtsch. zool. Ges.66, 184–189 (1973)
Rehbein, H.G., Kalmring, K., Römer, H.: Structure and function of acoustic neurons in the thoracic ventral nerve cord ofLocusta migratoria (Acrididae). J. comp. Physiol.95, 263–280 (1974a)
Rehbein, H.G., Kalmring, K., Schwartzkopff, J.: Verschaltung eines akustischen Neurons im Bauchmark vonLocusta migratoria. Naturwissenschaften61, 689 (1974b)
Römer, H.: Die Informationsverarbeitung tympanaler Rezeptorelemente vonLocusta migratoria (Acrididae, Orthoptera). J. comp. Physiol.109, 101–122 (1976)
Sandeman, D.C.: Integrative properties of a reflex motoneuron in the brain of the crabCarcinus maenas. Z. vergl. Physiol.64, 450–464 (1969c)
Schwartzkopff, J.: Mechanoreception. In: The physiology of insecta (M. Rockstein, ed.), pp. 273–352. San Francisco, New York: Acad. Press 1974
Tyrer, N.M., Altman, J.S.: Motor and sensory flight neurones in a locust demonstrated using cobalt chloride. J. comp. Neurol.157, 117–138 (1974)
Tyrer, N.M., Bell, E.M.: The intensification of cobalt-filled neurone profiles using a modification of Timm's sulphide-silver method. Brain Res.73, 151–155 (1974)
Yanagisawa, K., Hashimoto, T., Katsuki, Y.: Frequency discrimination in the central nerve cords of locusts. J. Insect Physiol.13, 635–643 (1967)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work formed part of the program Sonderforschungsbereich 114 (Bionach) and was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
I would like to thank Prof. Dr. J. Schwartzkopff for his unstinted support and helpful criticism of this work. I am also most grateful for the collaboration of my colleagues Drs. K. Kalmring, H. Römer and J. Rheinlaender. Mrs. B. Ewersmeyer gave much-appreciated assistance in the staining experiments.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rehbein, H. Auditory neurons in the ventral cord of the locust: Morphological and functional properties. J. Comp. Physiol. 110, 233–250 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00659142
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00659142