Summary
The serotonergic innervation of the genital chamber of the female cricket, Acheta domestica, has been investigated applying anti-serotonin (5-HT) immunocyto-chemistry at both light- and electron-microscopic levels as well as using conventional electron microscopy. Whole mount and pre-embedding chopper techniques of immuno-cytochemistry reveal a dense 5-HT-immunoreactive network of varicose fibers in the musculature of the genital chamber. All of these immunoreactive fibers originate from the efferent serotonergic neuron projecting through the nerve 8v to the genital chamber (Hustert and Topel 1986; Elekes et al. 1987). At the electron-microscopic level, 5-HT-immunoreactive nerve terminals, which contain small (50–60 nm) and large (∼ 100 nm) agranular vesicles as well as granular vesicles (∼100nm), contact the muscle fibers or the sarcoplasmic processes without establishing specialized neuromuscular connections. In addition to the 5-HT-immunoreactive axons, two types of immunonegative axons can also be found in the musculature. By use of conventional electron microscopy, three ultrastructurally distinct types of axon processes can be observed, one of which resembles 5-HT-immunoreactive axons. While the majority of the varicosities do not synapse on the muscle fibers, terminals containing small (50–60 nm) agranular vesicles occasionally form specialized neuromuscular contacts. It is suggested that the 5-HTergic innervation plays a non-synaptic modulatory role in the regulation circular musculature in the genital chamber of the cricket, while the musculature as a whole may be influenced by both synaptic and modulatory mechanisms.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams JC (1981) Heavy metal intensification of DAB-based HRP reaction product. J Histochem Cytochem 29:775
Bräunig P (1987) The satellite nervous system — an extensive neurohemal network in the locust head. J Comp Physiol 160:69–77
Davis NT (1985) Serotonin-immunoreactive visceral nerves and neurohemal system in the cockroach Periplane ta americana (L.). Cell Tissue Res 240:593–600
Davis NT (1987) Neurosecretory neurons and their projections to the serotonin neurohemal system of the cockroach Periplaneta americana (L.), and identification of mandibular and maxillary neurons associated with this system. J Comp Neurol 259:604–621
Elekes K, Hustert R, Geffard M (1987) Serotonin-and dopamine-immunoreactive neurons in the terminal ganglion of the cricket. Light-and electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry. Cell Tissue Res 250:167–180
Hustert R, Topel U (1986) Location and major postembryonic changes of 5-HT-immunorective neurons in the terminal ganglion of a cricket (Acheta domestica). Cell Tissue Res 245:615–621
Hoyle G, Colquhoun W, Williams M (1980) Fine structure of an octopaminergic neuron and its terminal. J Neurobiol 11:103–126
Klemm N (1983) Detection of serotonin-containing neurons in the insect nervous system by antibodies to 5-HT. In: Strausfeld NJ (ed) Functional neuroanatomy. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo
Klemm N, Hustert R, Cantera R, Nässei DR (1986) Neurons reactive against serotonin in the stomatogastric nervous system and in the alimentary canal of locusts and crickets (Orthoptera, Insecta). Neuroscience 17:247–261
Nässei DR, Elekes K (1984) Ultrastructural demonstration of serotonin-immunoreactivity in the nervous system of an insect (Calliphora erythrocephala). Neurosci Lett 48:203–210
Nässei DR, Elekes K (1985) Serotonergic terminals in the neural sheath of the blowfly nervous system: electron microscopical immunocytochemistry and 5, 7 -dihydroxytryptamine labelling. Neuroscience 15:293–307
Nässei DR, Meyer E, Klemm N (1985) Mapping and ultrastructure of serotonin-immunoreactive neurons in the optic lobes of three insect species. J Comp Neurol 232:190–204
Reynolds ES (1963) The use of lead citrate in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 17:208–212
Schürmann FW, Elekes K (1987) Synaptic connectivity in the mushroom bodies of the honeybee brain: electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry of neuroactive compounds. In: Menzel R, Mercer AR (eds) Neurobiology and behavior of bees. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo
Sternberger LA (1979) Immunocytochemistry. John Wiley and Sons, New York
Tyrer NM, Turner JD, Altman J (1984) Identifiable neurons in the locust central nervous system that react with antibodies to serotonin. J Comp Neurol 227:313–330
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Elekes, K., Hustert, R. The efferent innervation of the genital chamber by an identified serotonergic neuron in the female cricket Acheta domestica . Cell Tissue Res. 252, 449–457 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00214388
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00214388