Abstract
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1.
Projection patterns of olfactory receptor neurons, specifically tuned to the two principal components of the female H. virescens sex pheromone blend, and to a third pheromone-like compound of possible antagonistic significance, were examined using a combined electrophysiological and morphological technique.
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2.
The macroglomerular complex consists of four major glomerular subdivisions.
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3.
In the sensillum type containing a receptor neuron detecting the main pheromone component, Z11-16: AL, two cells were present. When the sensillum was stimulated with Z11-16:AL, a single axon, stained by a method that selectively stains active neurons, was seen projecting into the large a glomerulus. The b glomerulus was innervated by a second neuron in a few double stainings.
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4.
In a second sensillum type, one receptor neuron tuned to the second major pheromone component, Z9-14:AL, was found. In these sensilla, one or two receptor neurons of unknown specificity were also observed. When the sensillum was stimulated with Z9-14: AL, a single neuron projecting into glomerulus a or two neurons projecting into glomerulus a were most often observed.
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5.
In the third sensillum type, one neuron specifically tuned to Z11-16:AC projected to glomerulus c, and a second cell of unknown specificity projected to the same area.
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6.
The axonal arborizations of different physiological receptor neuron types involved in the detection of the pheromone blend do not display a clearcut morphological separation into different glomeruli in the MGC. A separation between neurons detecting attracting and repelling odours was, however, present.
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Abbreviations
- AN :
-
antennal nerve
- AL :
-
antennal lobe
- MGC :
-
macroglomerular complex
- RN :
-
receptor neuron
- Z9-14 :
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AL (Z) 9-tetradecenal
- Z11-16 :
-
AL(Z) 1-hexadecenal
- Z11-16 :
-
AC(Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate
- Z11-16 :
-
OH(Z)-11-hexadecenol
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Hansson, B.S., Almaas, T.J. & Anton, S. Chemical communication in heliothine moths. J Comp Physiol A 177, 535–543 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00207183
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00207183