title: Neuronal projections from the Haller's organ and palp sensilla to the synganglion of Amblyomma americanum§.
abstract: The present study was conducted to elucidate the neuronal pathways between peripheral olfactory and taste sensilla and the synganglion in an Ixodidae tick species. The tarsus of the front legs (olfactory nerves) and the fourth palpal segment (gustatory nerves) of unfed Amblyomma americanum males and females were excised. A neuronal tracer, dextran tetramethylrhodamine, was used for filling of the sensory neurons. The synganglion preparations were examined using a confocal microscope. Neuronal arborizations from the Haller's organ were confined to the olfactory lobes and the first pedal ganglion. The estimated number of olfactory glomeruli ranged from 16 to 22 per olfactory lobe in the females. The number of glomeruli was not counted in males because they were densely packed. Sensory neurons associated with sensilla at the distal end of the palpal organ projected into the palpal ganglion in the synganglion through the palpal nerve. Gustatory sensory neurons associated with palpal sensilla projected into a commissure with several bulges, which are confined in the palpal ganglion. The findings of distinct projection patterns of sensory neurons associated with the Haller's organ and palpal organ in the lone star tick from this study advanced our knowledge on mechanisms of sensory information processing in ticks.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia GO , Brasil, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia, Parasitologia e Patologia, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás - UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lígia Miranda Ferreira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Beltsville MD , U.S.A., Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Beltsville, MD, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Andrew Yongsheng
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Agriculture Research Service, Kerrville TX , U.S.A., Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Agriculture Research Service, Kerrville, TX, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Pia Untalan
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Olafson
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Biology, University Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio TX , U.S.A., Deparment of Biology, University Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Renthal
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Beltsville MD , U.S.A., Electron & Confocal Microscopy Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Beltsville, MD, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Gary Roy
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Bauchan
authors.affiliation: States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Agriculture Research Service, Kerrville TX , U.S.A., Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Agriculture Research Service, Kerrville, TX, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Kimberly Hutchison
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lohmeyer
authors.affiliation: States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Agriculture Research Service, Kerrville TX , U.S.A., Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Agriculture Research Service, Kerrville, TX, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Adalberto Angel Pérez de
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: León
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D058618:Sensilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000294:innervation*