title: Central Projection of Antennal Sensory Neurons in the Central Nervous System of the Mirid Bug Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür).
abstract: The mirid bug Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür), a polyphagous pest, is dependent on olfactory cues to locate various host plant species and mates. In this study, we traced the projection pathway of the antennal sensory neurons and visualized their projection patterns in the central nervous system of A. lucorum through confocal microscopy and digital reconstructions. We also examined the glomerular organization of the primary olfactory center of the brain, the antennal lobe, and created a three-dimensional model of the glomeruli. We found that the axons of the sensory neurons project into the brain via the ipsilateral antennal nerve, and descend further into the gnathal ganglion, prothoracic ganglion, mesothoracic ganglion, and metathoracic ganglion, and reach as far as to the abdominal ganglion. Such a projection pattern indicates that antennal sensory neurons of A. lucorum may be potentially directly connected to motor neurons. The antennal lobe, however, is the major target area of antennal sensory neurons. The antennal lobe is composed of a large number of glomeruli, i.e. 70-80 glomeruli in one AL of A. lucorum. The results of this study which provide information about the basic anatomical arrangement of the brain olfactory center of A. lucorum, are important for further investigations of chemosensory encoding mechanisms of the mirid bug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
authors.forename: Gui-Ying
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Cheng
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
authors.forename: Bai-Wei
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Henan Key Laboratory of Crop Pest Control, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Southern Region of North China, International Joint Research Laboratory for Crop Protection of Henan, Institute of Plant Protection, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Ping
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Henan Key Laboratory of Crop Pest Control, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Southern Region of North China, International Joint Research Laboratory for Crop Protection of Henan, Institute of Plant Protection, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Qiang
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pomology, College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057506:Arthropod Antennae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020062:Heteroptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology