Serotonin-like immunoreactivity in the ventral nerve cord of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata: Identification of five different neuron classes

T. Van Haeften*, H. Schooneveld

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    In an immunohistochemical study of the ventral nerve cord of L. decemlineata, five distinct neuron categories were distinguished: 1) Two paired segmental twin interneurons occur in each ganglion or neuromere; their axons distribute processes over almost the entire nerve cord and run to the cerebral ganglion complex. In contrast, other axons are distributed locally. 2) Four large frontal neurosecretory neurons occur in the suboesophageal ganglion (SOG), two of which have axons that run into the mandibular nerves to form a neurohemal plexus on the surface of cerebral nerves. 3) A pair of large caudal neurons occur in the terminal ganglion and innervate the hindgut. 4) Local miniature interneurons occur in the SOG. 5) Terminal neurons are present in the last abdominal ganglion. Segmental twin interneurons appear to be grouped into 3 'functional units' spanning several ganglia. Their axons run to specific projection areas, which separate the functional units, and which mark the externally visible separation of condensed ganglion complexes. A possible role of the most caudal functional unit might be the synaptic control of caudal neurons innervating the hindgut.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)405-413
    Number of pages9
    JournalCell and Tissue Research
    Volume270
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 6 Nov 1992

    Keywords

    • Efferent neurons
    • Immunocytochemistry
    • Insect ventral nervous system
    • Interneurons
    • Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Insecta)
    • Serotonin
    • Whole-mount

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