Histamine-like immunoreactivity in the visual system and brain of an orthopteran and a hymenopteran insect

Abstract.

The distribution of histamine-like immunoreactivity has been analyzed in the visual system and brain of the cricket Gryllus campestris and of the bee Apis mellifera by using an antiserum against histamine. Specific immunolabeling of the photoreceptors has been found in the compound eyes and ocelli of both examined species. Intense immunostaining can be also detected in the midbrain of these species. The axons of immunoreactive cells innervate almost every area in the protocerebrum. Most of the reactive neurons are typically wide-field neurons with bilateral ramifications that form dense arborizations. Numerous small buttons on the arborizations probably represent pre- and postsynaptic sites. The histamine-like immunoreactive neurons are apparently connected to many postsynaptic neurons. In both bees and crickets, some regions of the nervous system such as the first two optic neuropils and the central body show the same labeling pattern, whereas the mushroom bodies exhibit no immunoreactivity. Nevertheless, several differences in the staining pattern can be seen: the glomeruli of the antennal lobe are invaded by histamine-like immunoreactive fibers in the bee but not in the cricket. Furthermore, an interneuron connects the second and third optic neuropil in the cricket, whereas no histamine-like immunoreactive interneuron is found in the second optic neuropil in the bee. In accord with the work of other authors on the distribution histamine in the insect nervous system, we suggest that histamine is not only a transmitter within the visual system, but also a transmitter or co-transmitter in the insect midbrain.