Complete mapping of glomeruli based on sensory nerve branching pattern in the primary olfactory center of the cockroach Periplaneta americana

Abstract

Glomeruli are structural and functional units in the primary olfactory center in vertebrates and insects. In the cockroach Periplaneta americana, axons of different types of sensory neurons housed in sensilla on antennae form dorsal and ventral antennal nerves and then project to a number of glomeruli. In this study, we identified all antennal lobe (AL) glomeruli based on detailed innervation patterns of sensory tracts in addition to the shape, size, and locations in the cockroach. The number of glomeruli is approximately 205, and no sex-specific difference is observed. Anterograde dye injections into the antennal nerves revealed that axons supplying the AL are divided into 10 sensory tracts (T1-T10). Each of T1-T3 innervates small, oval glomeruli in the anteroventral region of the AL, with sensory afferents invading each glomerulus from multiple directions, whereas each of T4-T10 innervates large glomeruli with various shapes in the posterodorsal region, with a bundle of sensory afferents invading each glomerulus from one direction. The topographic branching patterns of all these tracts are conserved among individuals. Sensory afferents in a sub-tract of T10 had axon terminals in the dorsal margin of the AL and the protocerebrum, where they form numerous small glomerular structures. Sensory nerve branching pattern should reflect developmental processes to determine spatial arrangement of glomeruli, and thus the complete map of glomeruli based on sensory nerve branching pattern should provide a basis for studying the functional significance of spatial arrangement of glomeruli and its developmental basis.