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Segmental and interganglionic projections from primary fibres of insect mechanoreceptors

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Summary

Projections of primary insect mechanoreceptor fibres in Locusta migratoria and Acheta domesticus are visualised with the cobalt intensification technique after axonal or dendritic filling with cobaltous chloride. Chordotonal proprioceptors of the locust mesothoracic thoracocoxal joint have typical segmental projections and more or less widespread interganglionic processes into the metathoracic, prothoracic and even suboesophageal ganglia. Similar observations can be made on locust abdominal chordotonal organs, from some of which all primary axons project into five preceding neuromeres or ganglia. From locust abdominal stretch receptors and cricket mechanosensitive sternal hairs single afferent axons extend through several ganglia. Locust campaniform sensilla and clavate hair projections of crickets terminate locally. It is concluded that many interganglionic primary afferents contribute to intersegmental control of motor coordination in insects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz, Bundesrepublik Deutschland

    Reinhold Hustert

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  1. Reinhold Hustert
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Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Hu 223/3,4)

The author is indebted to U. Kliche and P. Bräunig for their skilful technical assistance and to Drs. W. Honegger and D. Ballantyne for critically reading the manuscript

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Hustert, R. Segmental and interganglionic projections from primary fibres of insect mechanoreceptors. Cell Tissue Res. 194, 337–351 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220400

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