Morphological and physiological regeneration in the auditory system of adult Mecopoda elongata (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae).
Orthopterans are suitable model organisms for investigations of regeneration mechanisms in the auditory system. Regeneration has been described in the auditory systems of locusts (Caelifera) and of crickets (Ensifera). In this study, we comparatively investigate the neural regeneration in the auditory system in the bush cricket Mecopoda elongata. A crushing of the tympanal nerve in the foreleg of M. elongata results in a loss of auditory information transfer. Physiological recordings of the tympanal nerve suggest outgrowing fibers 5 days after crushing. An anatomical regeneration of the fibers within the central nervous system starts 10 days after crushing. The neuronal projection reaches the target area at day 20. Threshold values to low frequency airborne sound remain high after crushing, indicating a lower regeneration capability of this group of fibers. However, within the central target area the low frequency areas are also innervated. Recordings of auditory interneurons show that the regenerating fibers form new functional connections starting at day 20 after crushing.
AG Integrative Sinnesphysiologie, Institut für Tierphysiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Wartweg 95, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Silke
S
Krüger
Casey S
CS
Butler
Reinhard
R
Lakes-Harlan
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005121:Extremities / Q000294:innervation*; D005260:Female; D006135:Gryllidae; D007395:Interneurons / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D013997:Time Factors