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Golgi-Em-study of first and second order neurons in the visual system ofCataglyphis bicolor Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

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Summary

  1. 1)

    Comparable to the bee, but in contrast to the majority of ants, the desert antCataglyphis bicolor has been shown to exhibit a highly developed repertoire of visually guided behavioural responses. This paper deals with the anatomy and fine structure of the peripheral visual pathway of this ant.

    In the first visual neuropile, the lamina, first and second order neurons are classified by applying Golgi methods adapted for electron microscopy. Synaptic connections within the lamina are described and discussed. The results are summarised in developing a three-dimensional model of the ant's lamina (Fig. 17).

  2. 2)

    Eachretinula within the central eye region is composed of four large (nos. 2, 4, 6 and 8) and four small retinular cells (nos. 1, 3, 5 and 7) and a basal ninth cell. Visual cells nos. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 form short unbranched axons (Rs), which terminate within the lamina. The visual cells nos. 1 and 5 (Rl), as well as the basal cell no. 9, show arborisations in the lamina, but terminate in the second visual neuropile, the medulla. Within the lamina all nine retinular cell axons, originating from one retinula, form a cartridge within which they interact with the second order neurons, the monopolar cells.

    Collaterals of second order neurons and side branches of retinular cell axons form local neuronal circuits.

  3. 3)

    Five types ofmonopolar cells have been classified by means of their dendritic fields within the lamina and the medulla (L1a, b, c, L2 and L4). They relay the retinular cells with higher order neurons within the medulla. In the distal layer of the lamina (stratum A) the spreads of the monopolar cells are restricted to a single cartridge, whereas in the proximal stratum C their collateral processes extend laterally through more than one cartridge. The collaterals of the L4-type of monopolar cells are exclusively confined to stratum C. There they are arranged bilaterally along the dorsoventral axis of the eye.

    Within stratum A, where all neurons are organised in well defined columns (cartridges), the axons of the short visual cells seem to be distributed over any cross section of a cartridge at random. In this layer, tangential fibres are the only candidates for inter-cartridge cross talk. In stratum C, the columnar organisation of the neuropile becomes less obvious because of the wide spread ramifications of the second order neurons. For instance, the collaterals of the L1a-type of monopolar cell extend over up to 18 neighbouring cartridges.

  4. 4)

    Three types ofcentrifugal fibres running from the medulla to the lamina are observed (T-fibres). Some of them form wide field arborisations either in stratum A (type T2) or in stratum C (type T3). In linear scale, their collaterals may extend over more than 40% of the large (dorsoventral) axis of the lamina.

  5. 5)

    Receptor terminals, especially Rs-fibres, are densely packed with elongated synaptic vesicles, whereas in second order neurons round vesicles are arranged around the presynaptic elements. Especially in Rs-fibres analyses of serial sections reveal T-shaped synaptic ribbons, which are the presynaptic sites as regards four postsynaptic elements. In case of rod-like presynaptic elements diadic and triadic arrangements of postsynaptic fibres can also be observed.

    Four main types of synaptic configurations are discriminated: (1) Receptor terminals synapse on second order neurons. (2) Second order neurons synapse on receptor cell axons as well as on other second order profiles. These synapses are sometimes observed in feedback configurations. (3) Synapses occuring between receptor axon terminals. (4) A small, probably efferent neurosecretory nerve fibre synapses on second order neurons. Neurosecretory fibres of larger diameters (to 1.5 Μm are frequently found in stratum C.

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  1. Zoologishes Institut der UniversitÄt Zürich, Künstlergasse 16, CH-8006, Zürich

    Eric P. Meyer

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Meyer, E.P. Golgi-Em-study of first and second order neurons in the visual system ofCataglyphis bicolor Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Zoomorphologie 92, 115–139 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01001534

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