Structure and electrophysiological responses of gustatory organs on the ovipositor of the parasitoid Leptopilina heterotoma.
Location, structure and histology of chemosensilla on the tip of the ovipositor of the parasitoid Leptopilina heterotoma are described based on SEM and TEM studies. Furthermore, we developed a method for recording extracellular action potentials from the gustatory neurons in response to host haemolymph. This method allowed us to record multi-unit recordings from a sensillum occurring singly on the unpaired ovipositor valve. The TEM study of the ovipositor tip revealed the presence of six dendrites, the electrophysiological recordings provided evidence for the activity of three or possibly four gustatory neurons in response to the complex stimulus offered, leaving other taste functions or a mechanoreceptor function open for the remaining neurons.
van Lenteren
Joop C
JC
Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, PO Box 8031, 6700 EH, Wageningen, The Netherlands. joop.vanlenteren@wur.nl
Ruschioni
Sara
S
Romani
Roberto
R
van Loon
Joop J A
JJ
Qiu
Yu Tong
YT
Smid
Hans M
HM
Isidoro
Nunzio
N
Bin
Ferdinando
F
D000818:Animals; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology; D012679:Sense Organs / Q000648:ultrastructure*