Morphology and physiology of olfactory neurons in the lateral protocerebrum of the silkmoth Bombyx mori

Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 12;9(1):16604. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53318-8.

Abstract

Insect olfaction is a suitable model to investigate sensory processing in the brain. Olfactory information is first processed in the antennal lobe and is then conveyed to two second-order centres-the mushroom body calyx and the lateral protocerebrum. Projection neurons processing sex pheromones and plant odours supply the delta area of the inferior lateral protocerebrum (∆ILPC) and lateral horn (LH), respectively. Here, we investigated the neurons arising from these regions in the brain of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, using mass staining and intracellular recording with a sharp glass microelectrode. The output neurons from the ∆ILPC projected to the superior medial protocerebrum, whereas those from the LH projected to the superior lateral protocerebrum. The dendritic innervations of output neurons from the ∆ILPC formed a subdivision in the ∆ILPC. We discuss pathways for odour processing in higher order centres.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bombyx / anatomy & histology*
  • Bombyx / physiology*
  • Cerebrum / anatomy & histology
  • Cerebrum / physiology*
  • Microelectrodes
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Olfactory Nerve / anatomy & histology
  • Olfactory Nerve / physiology*
  • Olfactory Pathways / anatomy & histology
  • Olfactory Pathways / physiology*