Antennal pathways in the central nervous system of Rhodnius prolixus.

BARROZO RB, COUTON L, INSAUSTI T, FRESQUET N, MINOLI SA, ROSPARS JP, ANTON S, LAZZARI CR

Roscoff, Francia

Congreso; 10th European Symposion of Taste and Olfaction,; 2007

The haematophagous bug Rhodnius prolixus has been a classical model system in insect physiology for a long time, and more recently sensory aspects are being revealed. Nevertheless, very few data are available on the basic organisation of its nervous system. By means of neuronal fills, histology, confocal microscopy and 3-D reconstruction methods, we established the first three-dimensional map of the antennal lobe (AL) of this species, based on both a qualitative and a quantitative approach. Computer reconstruction of the antennal lobe has revealed at least 22 glomeruli. Several prominent glomeruli are recognizable by their location, size, and shape; others are identifiable only by their positions relative to prominent glomeruli. In general, the ALs of this species are relative diffuse structures, with certain regions receiving more fibres than others. No obvious sexual dimorphism of the glomerular architecture was observed. Interestingly, antennal afferents not only project into the deutocerebrum, but fibres descend through the ventral nervous chain, up to neuropiles belonging to abdominal segments. Our results will be discussed in a comparative frame and as related to the biology of these bugs.