Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Neuroendocrine modulation of olfactory sensory neuron signal reception via axo-dendritic synapses in the antennae of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti

  • Published:
Journal of Molecular Neuroscience Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An ultrastructural study of the antennae of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, revealed that as in the salt marsh mosquito, Culex salinarius, the first flagellar segment of both sexes of A. aegypti contain neuroendocrine cells. These cells not only extend an axon via the antennal nerve to the antennal lobe of the deutocerebrum, but project collaterals to the periphery of the antennae, where they modulate the antennal sensory neurons by forming synapses with the dendrites of these afferent neurons. To our knowledge, this is the first report in any animal of neuroites of neuroendocrine cells forming axo-dendritic synapses with sensory neurons.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brown M. R., Klowden M. J., Crim J. W., Young L. A., and Lea A. O. (1994) Endogenous regulation of mosquito host-seeking behavior by a neuropeptide. J. Insect Physiol. 41, 805–813.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans P. D. (1994) The effects of myomodulin and structurally related neuropeptides on skeletal neuromuscular transmission in locust. J. Exp. Biol. 190, 253–264.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fiala J. C. and Harris K. M. (1999) Dendrite structure, in Dendrites (Stuart, G., Spruston, N., and Hausser M., eds.), Oxford University Press Inc., NY, NY, pp. 1–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humason, G.L. (1962) Animal Tissue Techniques. W.H. Freeman, San Francisco, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalt M. R. and Tandler B. (1971) A study of fixation of early amphibian embryos for electron microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 36, 633.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klowden M. J. (1981) Initiation and termination of host-seeking inhibition in Aedes aegypti during oocyte maturation. J. Insect Physiol. 27, 799–803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundquist C. T., Clottens F. L., Holman G. M., Riehm J. P., Bonkale W., and Nassel D. R. (1994) Locustatachykinin immunoreactivity in the blowfly central nervous system and intestine. J. Comp. Neurol. 341, 225–240.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maggio J. E. (1988) Tachykinins. Ann Rev. Neurosci. 11, 13–28.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mclver S. B. (1982) Sensilla of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 19, 489–535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meola R. W. and Readio J. (1987) Juvenile hormone regulation of the second biting cycle in Culexpipiens. J. Insect Physiol. 33, 751–754.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meola S. M., Clottens F. L., Holman G. M., Nachman R. J., Nichols R., Schoofs L., et al. (1998) Isolation and immunochemical localization of three tachykinin-related peptides from the mosquito, Culex salinarius. Neurochem. Res. 23, 189–202.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meola S. M., Sittertz-Bhatkar H., Pendleton M. W., Meola R. W., Knight W. P. and Olson J. (2000) Ultrastructural analysis of neurosecretory cells in the antennae of the mosquito, Culex salinarius (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Mol. Neurosci. 14, 17–25.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mollenhauer H. H. (1964) Plastic embedding mixtures for use in electron microscopy. Stain Technol. 39, 111.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nassel D. R. (1993) Insect myotropic peptides: differential distribution of locustatachykinin-and leucokinin-like immunoreactive neurons on the locust brain. Cell Tissue Res. 274, 27–40.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nassel D. R., Passier P.C.C.M., Elekes K., Dircksen H., Vullings H.G. B., and Cantera R. (1995) Evidence that locustatachykinin I is involved in release of adipokinetic hormone from locust corpora cardiaca. Regul. Peptides 57, 297–310.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds E. S. (1963) The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schoofs L., Holman G.M., Hayes T.K., Nachman R.J. and DeLoof A. (1990) Locustatachykin I and II, two novel insect neuropeptides with homology to peptides of the vertebrate tachykinin family. FEBS Lett. 261, 397–401.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zacharuk R. Y. (1985) Antennae and sensilla, in Comprehensive Insect Physiology Biochemistry and Pharmacology, vol. 6. (Kerkut, G. A. and Gilbert, L. I., eds.), Pergamon, Oxford, UK, pp. 1–69.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, 2881 F&B Road, 77845, College Station, TX

    Shirlee M. Meola

  2. Electron Microscopy Center, Texas A&M University, 77843, College Station, TX

    Helga Sittertz-Bhatkar

Authors
  1. Shirlee M. Meola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Helga Sittertz-Bhatkar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shirlee M. Meola.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Meola, S.M., Sittertz-Bhatkar, H. Neuroendocrine modulation of olfactory sensory neuron signal reception via axo-dendritic synapses in the antennae of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti . J Mol Neurosci 18, 239–245 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1385/JMN:18:3:239

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/JMN:18:3:239

Index Entries

Search

Navigation