Summary
In extracellular recordings neurons were located in the deutocerebrum ofAntheraea pernyi andAntheraea polyphemus which are specifically excited by components found in the female sexual attractant glands of both species (Figs. 3, 4). Extracellular cobalt injections via the recording electrode revealed a certain morphological type of neuron with widely branching arborizations in a big mass of neuropile (“macroglomerulus”) in the dorsal part of the deutocerebrum (Figs. 1, 2).
A comparison between odor specificity and odor sensitivity of antennal receptor cells on the one hand and the neurons in the deutocerebrum on the other, clearly reveals a convergence of receptors of different odor specificity (Figs. 5, 6) as well as a general convergence of receptors at central neurons which helps to keep the sensitivity of central neurons to the predominant compound in the pheromone very high (Tables 1, 2).
At the level of the neurons investigated, a discrimination between the female lure glands of the two species ofAntheraea occurs only in a quantitative way (Figs. 3, 4).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boeckh, J.: Die Reaktionen olfaktorischer Neurone im Deutocerebrum von Insekten im Vergleich zu den Antwortmustern der Geruchssinneszellen. J. Comp. Physiol.90, 183–205 (1974)
Boeckh, J., Kaissling, K.E., Schneider, D.: Sensillen und Bau der Antennengeißel vonTelea polyphemus (Vergleiche mit weiteren Saturniden:Antheraea, Platysamia, Philosamia). Zool. Jahrb. Anat.78, 559–584 (1960)
Boeckh, J., Ernst, K.-D., Sass, H., Waldow, U.: Coding of olfactory quality in the insect olfactory pathway. In: Olfaction and taste V. Denton, D. (ed.), pp. 239–245. London: Academic Press 1975
Boeckh, J., Ernst, K.-D., Sass, H., Waldow, U.: Zur nervösen Organisation antennaler Sinneseingänge bei Insekten unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Riechbahn. Verh. Dtsch. Zool. Ges.1976, 123–139. Stuttgart: Fischer (1976)
Boeckh, J., Boeckh, V., Kühn, A.: Further data on the topography and physiology of central olfactory neurons in insects. In: Olfaction and Taste (VI). Le Magnen, J., MacLeod, P. (eds.), pp. 315–321. London: IRL 1977
Ernst, K.-D., Boeckh, J., Boeckh, V.: A neuroanatomical study on the organisation of the central antennal pathway in insects. Cell Tiss. Res.176, 285–308 (1977)
Jawlowski, H.: Über die Struktur des Gehirns bei Saltatoria. Ann. Univ. M. Curie-Sklodowska, Lublin8C, 403–434 (1954)
Kaissling, K.E.: Sensory transduction in insect olfactory receptors. In: Biochemistry of sensory functions. Jaenicke, L. (ed.), pp. 243–273. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1976
Kaissling, K.E.: Recognition of pheromones by moth, especially in Saturniids andBombyx mori. In: Chemical ecology and odour communication in animals. Ritter, F.J. (ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier (in press) 1979
Kaissling, K.E., Priesner, E.: Die Riechschwelle des Seidenspinners. Naturwissenschaften57, 23–28 (1970)
Kien, J., Menzel, R.: Chromatic properties of interneurons in the optic lobes of the bee. J. Comp. Physiol.113, 17–34 (1977)
Kochansky, J., Tette, J., Taschenberg, E.F., Carde, R.T., Kaissling, K.E., Roelofs, W.L.: Sex Pheromone of the mothAntheraea polyphemus. J. Insect Physiol.21, 1977–1983 (1975)
Palade, G.E.: A study of fixation for electron microscopy. J. Exp. Med.95, 285–298 (1952)
Ramón-Moliner, E.: The Golgi technique. In: Contemporary research methods in neuroanatomy. Nauta, W.J.H., Ebbesond, S.O.E. (eds.), pp. 32–55. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1970
Rehbein, H., 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 (1974)
Richardson, K.C., Jarett, I., Finke, E.H.: Embedding in epoxy resins for ultrathin sectioning in electron microscopy. Stain Technol.35, 313–323 (1960)
Sabatini, D.D., Bensch, K., Barnett, R.J.: The preservation of cellular ultrastructure and enzymatic activity by aldehyde fixation. J. Cell Biol.17, 19–58 (1963)
Schaller, D.: Die Postembryonalentwicklung von Antenne und Deutocerebrum beiPeriplaneta americana L. unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Entstehung des Sexualdimorphismus. Dissertation Naturwiss. Fakultät Universität Regensburg (1977)
Tyrer, N.M., Bell, E.M.: The intensification of cobalt-filled neuron profiles using a modification of Timm's sulphide-silver method. Brain Res.73, 151–155 (1974)
Zack, C.: Sensory adaptation in Saturniid pheromone receptor cells. p. 365. In: Olfaction and taste VI. Le Magnen, J., MacLeod, P. (eds.), p. 365. London: IRL 1977
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFB 4/B 3
The authors are indebted to A. Kühn and J. Streck for skilful technical assistance, and to W.F. Colmers for correcting the English manuscript.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boeckh, J., Boeckh, V. Threshold and odor specificity of pheromone-sensitive neurons in the deutocerebrum ofAntheraea pernyi andA. polyphemus (Saturnidae). J. Comp. Physiol. 132, 235–242 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00614495
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00614495