Monoamines and neuropeptides in antennal lobe interneurons of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria: an immunocytochemical study

Abstract.

As a first step towards unravelling some of the complexity of the signalling and modulatory mechanisms in the antennal lobe (AL) of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria, I analysed the immunocytochemical identity of AL interneurons. Antibodies against serotonin, histamine, locustatachykinin, leucokinin and FMRFamide were used to reveal the morphology of interneurons ramifying in the AL. In addition, double-labelling experiments were performed in order to demonstrate colocalisation of GABA and locustatachykinin and to investigate the ramification patterns of immunolabelled interneurons and physiologically characterised olfactory projection neurons (PNs) injected with Lucifer yellow. Immunoreactivity to these antibodies revealed six different types of interneurons with different patterns of ramification within the glomerular neuropil: (1, 2) Centrifugal interneurons displaying serotonin immunoreactivity, which arborised extensively within the AL and extended varicose fibres into the microglomerular core where close associations with dendrites of AL PNs could be distinguished. (3) Histamine-immunoreactive centrifugal interneurons with arborisations in the protocerebrum and the dorsal non-glomerular regions of the AL and the lobus glomerulatus (LG). (4) Locustatachykinin-immunoreactive local interneurons, colocalising GABA, arborising throughout the AL and extending varicose fibres throughout the glomerular neuropil where close associations with dendrites of AL PNs could be distinguished. (5) Leucokinin-immunoreactive descending neurons connecting the protocerebrum, the AL, the LG and all ganglia of the ventral nerve cord. These neurons displayed sparse innervation of the AL and extended varicose fibres into the interglomerular space. (6) FMRFamide-immunoreactive centrifugal interneurons, connecting the lateral protocerebrum with the AL and the LG, which arborised sparsely within these neuropils and displayed similar innervation of the microglomeruli as (1) and (2).