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Neurons in the brain of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria sensitive to polarized light at low stimulus elevations

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Abstract

Desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) sense the plane of dorsally presented polarized light through specialized dorsal eye regions that are likely adapted to exploit the polarization pattern of the blue sky for spatial orientation. Receptive fields of these dorsal rim photoreceptors and polarization-sensitive interneurons are directed toward the upper sky but may extend to elevations below 30°. Behavioral data, however, suggests that S. gregaria is even able to detect polarized light from ventral directions but physiological evidence for this is still lacking. In this study we characterized neurons in the locust brain showing polarization sensitivity at low elevations down to the horizon. In most neurons polarization sensitivity was absent or weak when stimulating from the zenith. All neurons, including projection and commissural neurons of the optic lobe and local interneurons of the central brain, are novel cell types, distinct from polarization-sensitive neurons studied so far. Painting dorsal rim areas in both eyes black to block visual input had no effect on the polarization sensitivity of these neurons, suggesting that they receive polarized light input from the main eye. A possible role of these neurons in flight stabilization or the perception of polarized light reflected from bodies of water or vegetation is discussed.

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Abbreviations

Φ:

E-vector angle

AMMC:

Antennal mechanosensory and motor center

DRA:

Dorsal rim area

E-vector:

Electric field vector

IL neurons:

Interlobula neurons

IM neurons:

Intermedulla neurons

LP neurons:

Lobula projection neurons

MEHF neurons:

Medulla equatorial horizontal fascicle neurons

MLP neurons:

Medulla-lobula projection neurons

NaPi:

Sodium phosphate buffer

NGS:

Normal goat serum

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

PBT:

Phosphate-buffered saline with Triton X-100

POL:

Polarization

PS:

POL sensitivity

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Drs. Erich Buchner (University of Würzburg) and Hans Agricola (University of Jena) for the donation of antisera, and to Martina Kern for maintaining the locust cultures. This work was supported by grants from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (HO 950/16-3 and HO 950/23-1) to UH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Zellbiologie und Neurowissenschaft, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/M, Germany

    M. Jerome Beetz

  2. Faculty of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany

    M. Jerome Beetz, Keram Pfeiffer & Uwe Homberg

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  1. M. Jerome Beetz
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  2. Keram Pfeiffer
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  3. Uwe Homberg
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Correspondence to Uwe Homberg.

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Author contributions

MJB performed experiments. KP wrote scripts for recordings and analysis. MJB and KP analysed data. MJB wrote manuscript. MJB and UH conceived and directed the study. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests. Readers are welcome to comment on the online version of the paper. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to U.H. (homberg@biologie.uni-marburg.de).

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Jerome Beetz, M., Pfeiffer, K. & Homberg, U. Neurons in the brain of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria sensitive to polarized light at low stimulus elevations. J Comp Physiol A 202, 759–781 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-016-1116-x

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