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Johnston´S Organ As a Mechanosensory Element for Spatial Orientation in Rhodnius Prolixus
Johnston´s organ as a mechanosensory element for spatial orientation in Rhodnius prolixus Bibiana Ospina-Rozo; Manu Forero-Shelton, Jorge Molina Flagellar antennae in the class Insecta generally bear two basal segments (scape and pedicel) and a segmented flagellum lacking intrinsic muscles (Schneider, 1964). In the non-muscular joint between the pedicel and the flagellum is located the Johnston’s organ (JO). This organ is a chordotonal complex consisting of sub-unities called scolopidia, each one bearing one to three specialized sensory neurons (Yack, 2004). These neurons are capable of detecting the movement of the flagellum, and transducing it into action potentials (Yack, 2004). These two features: the lack of intrinsic muscles beyond the scape and the presence of the JO are considered synapomorphic traits for the class Insecta (Kristensen, 1998; Kristensen, 1981). The Johnston’s organ has been deeply studied in groups of Holometabolous insects, and it has been proven to have many important and diverse functions such as flight control (Sane et al., 2007), near- field hearing (Kamikouchi et al., 2009) and detection of electric fields (Greggers et al., 2013), among others. In holometabolous insects the JO can have variable number of scolopidia. Higher numbers and organization of scolopidia are considered either a strategy to enhance resolution like near-field sound detection in males of Aedes genus with 7000 scolopidia (Boo & Richards, 1975), or a way to ensure various functions as in Drosophila, where the JO consists of 200 scolopidia divided into 5 regions and capable of codifying wind direction, near-field sound and gravity direction (Kamikouchi et al., 2009). -
Computational Models of Proprioception
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect A leg to stand on: computational models of proprioception 1,4 2,4 Chris J Dallmann , Pierre Karashchuk , 3,5 1,5 Bingni W Brunton and John C Tuthill Dexterous motor control requires feedback from interacts with motor circuits to control the body remains proprioceptors, internal mechanosensory neurons that sense a fundamental problem in neuroscience. the body’s position and movement. An outstanding question in neuroscience is how diverse proprioceptive feedback signals An effective method to investigate the function of sensory contribute to flexible motor control. Genetic tools now enable circuits is to perturb neural activity and measure the targeted recording and perturbation of proprioceptive neurons effect on an animal’s behavior. For example, activating in behaving animals; however, these experiments can be or silencing neurons in the mammalian visual cortex [4] or challenging to interpret, due to the tight coupling of insect optic glomeruli [5] has identified the circuitry and proprioception and motor control. Here, we argue that patterns of activity that underlie visually guided beha- understanding the role of proprioceptive feedback in viors. However, due to the distributed nature of proprio- controlling behavior will be aided by the development of ceptive sensors and their tight coupling with motor con- multiscale models of sensorimotor loops. We review current trol circuits, perturbations to the proprioceptive system phenomenological and structural models for proprioceptor can be difficult to execute and tricky to interpret. encoding and discuss how they may be integrated with existing models of posture, movement, and body state estimation. Mechanical perturbation experiments Early efforts to understand the behavioral contributions Addresses 1 of proprioceptive feedback relied on lesions and mechan- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA ical perturbations. -
Observations on the Springtail Leaping Organ and Jumping Mechanism Worked by a Spring
Observations on the Springtail Leaping Organ and Jumping Mechanism Worked by a Spring Seiichi Sudo a*, Masahiro Shiono a, Toshiya Kainuma a, Atsushi Shirai b, and Toshiyuki Hayase b a Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University, Japan b Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, Japan Abstract— This paper is concerned with a small In this paper, the springtail leaping organ was jumping mechanism. Microscopic observations of observed with confocal laser scanning microscopy. A springtail leaping organs were conducted using a jumping mechanism using a spring and small confocal leaser scanning microscope. A simple electromagnet was produced based on the observations springtail mechanism using a spring and small of leaping organ and the jumping analysis of the electromagnet was produced based on the observations springtail. of leaping organ and the jumping analysis of the globular springtail. Jumping characteristics of the mechanism were examined with high-speed video II. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD camera system. A. Microscopic Observations Index Terms—Jumping Mechanism, Leaping Organ, Globular springtails are small insects that reach Springtail, Morphology, Jumping Characteristics around 1 mm in size. They have the jumping organ (furcula), which can be folded under the abdomen. Muscular action releasing the furcula can throw the I. INTRODUCTION insect well out of the way of predators. Jumping in insect movement is an effective way to In this paper, microscopic observations of the furcula escape predators, find food, and change locations. were conducted using the confocal laser scanning Grasshoppers, fleas, bush crickets, katydids, and locusts microscope. Confocal laser scanning microscopy is are particularly well known for jumping mechanisms to fluorescence – imaging technique that produces move around. -
Development of Johnston's Organ in Drosophila
Int. J. Dev. Biol. 51: 679-687 (2007) doi: 10.1387/ijdb.072364de Development of Johnston’s organ in Drosophila DANIEL F. EBERL*,1 and GRACE BOEKHOFF-FALK2 1Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA and 2Department of Anatomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA ABSTRACT Hearing is a specialized mechanosensory modality that is refined during evolution to meet the particular requirements of different organisms. In the fruitfly, Drosophila, hearing is mediated by Johnston’s organ, a large chordotonal organ in the antenna that is exquisitely sensitive to the near-field acoustic signal of courtship songs generated by male wing vibration. We summarize recent progress in understanding the molecular genetic determinants of Johnston’s organ development and discuss surprising differences from other chordotonal organs that likely facilitate hearing. We outline novel discoveries of active processes that generate motion of the antenna for acute sensitivity to the stimulus. Finally, we discuss further research directions that would probe remaining questions in understanding Johnston’s organ development, function and evolution. KEY WORDS: audition, hearing, scolopidia, chordotonal organ, active mechanics Introduction Drosophila chordotonal organs and their functions Practically the entire progress in genetic and molecular Selection pressures on the functions of specific sense or- elucidation of hearing mechanisms in the fruitfly, Drosophila gans have long-term effects on whether those functions will be melanogaster has occurred in the last decade. The Johnston’s maintained and further perfected, whether functions will be organ (JO), located in the fly’s antenna, formally has been attenuated, even lost, or whether novel functions will arise. The confirmed as the major auditory organ and mutations in many diverse chordotonal organs of Drosophila almost certainly de- genes required for hearing have been identified using a variety rive from a common ancestral mechanosensor whose develop- of approaches. -
Visions & Reflections on the Origin of Smell: Odorant Receptors in Insects
Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 63 (2006) 1579–1585 1420-682X/06/141579-7 DOI 10.1007/s00018-006-6130-7 Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences © Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, 2006 Visions & Reflections On the ORigin of smell: odorant receptors in insects R. Benton Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, Box 63, New York, New York 10021 (USA), Fax: +1 212 327 7238, e-mail: [email protected] Received 23 March 2006; accepted 28 April 2006 Online First 19 June 2006 Abstract. Olfaction, the sense of smell, depends on large, suggested that odours are perceived by a conserved mecha- divergent families of odorant receptors that detect odour nism. Here I review recent revelations of significant struc- stimuli in the nose and transform them into patterns of neu- tural and functional differences between the Drosophila ronal activity that are recognised in the brain. The olfactory and mammalian odorant receptor proteins and discuss the circuits in mammals and insects display striking similarities implications for our understanding of the evolutionary and in their sensory physiology and neuroanatomy, which has molecular biology of the insect odorant receptors. Keywords. Olfaction, odorant receptor, signal transduction, GPCR, neuron, insect, mammal, evolution. Olfaction: the basics characterised by the presence of seven membrane-span- ning segments with an extracellular N terminus. OR pro- Olfaction is used by most animals to extract vital infor- teins are exposed to odours on the ciliated endings of olf- mation from volatile chemicals in the environment, such actory sensory neuron (OSN) dendrites in the olfactory as the presence of food or predators. -
Using Drosophila to Study Mechanisms of Hereditary Hearing Loss Tongchao Li1,*, Hugo J
© 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd | Disease Models & Mechanisms (2018) 11, dmm031492. doi:10.1242/dmm.031492 REVIEW Using Drosophila to study mechanisms of hereditary hearing loss Tongchao Li1,*, Hugo J. Bellen1,2,3,4,5 and Andrew K. Groves1,3,5,‡ ABSTRACT Keats and Corey, 1999; Kimberling et al., 2010; Mathur and Yang, Johnston’s organ – the hearing organ of Drosophila – has a very 2015). It is an autosomal recessive genetic disease, characterized by different structure and morphology to that of the hearing organs of varying degrees of deafness and retinitis pigmentosa-induced vision vertebrates. Nevertheless, it is becoming clear that vertebrate and loss. Although our understanding of genetic hearing loss has invertebrate auditory organs share many physiological, molecular advanced greatly over the past 20 years (Vona et al., 2015), there is a and genetic similarities. Here, we compare the molecular and cellular pressing need for experimental systems to understand the function features of hearing organs in Drosophila with those of vertebrates, of the proteins encoded by deafness genes. The mouse is well and discuss recent evidence concerning the functional conservation established as a model for studying human genetic deafness (Brown of Usher proteins between flies and mammals. Mutations in Usher et al., 2008), but other model organisms, such as the fruit fly genes cause Usher syndrome, the leading cause of human deafness Drosophila, might also provide convenient and more rapid ways to and blindness. In Drosophila, some Usher syndrome proteins appear assay the function of candidate deafness genes. to physically interact in protein complexes that are similar to those In mammals, mechanosensitive hair cells reside in a specialized described in mammals. -
Unit 6 in Entomology [1] Unit Six. Reception and Integration: the Insect Nervous System. [2] in This Unit, You'll Need to Desc
Unit 6 in Entomology [1] Unit six. Reception and Integration: The Insect Nervous System. [2] In this unit, you'll need to describe the origin of the insect nervous system, identify the major structures of the insect nervous system and describe their function, compare and contrast the physical structure and functions of compound eyes and simple eyes, differentiate between the two types of simple eyes and describe the four types of mechanical receptors insects possess. [3] Have you ever thought about how insects receive information from their environment? We use all of our five senses, but what about insects? Think about this. Do they have eyes? Yeah, mostly. Do they have a nose? The answer may seem obvious to you: insects don't have noses, but have you ever thought about how they smell or do they even smell? Well, yes, they do. They have receptors on their antenna and other parts of their body to pick up scents. In order to understand how an insect picks up a scent, let's first look at how humans do it. [4] Someone is baking luscious bread in the kitchen. As you walk by the kitchen, chemical molecules mixed with the steam waft up from the cooking food and enter your nose. The molecules then bind to tiny hairs in the nasal cavity. These hairs are extensions of olfactory nerve cells. Nerve cells are also called neurons. The binding of the chemical causes your olfactory nerves to fire and send a message to your brain. There, the brain interprets the message and fires another nerve cell in response that stimulates your salivary glands. -
Wireless and Battery-Free Technologies for Neuroengineering
REVIEW ARTICLE https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-021-00683-3 Wireless and battery-free technologies for neuroengineering Sang Min Won1,14, Le Cai2,14, Philipp Gutruf 2,3,4 ✉ and John A. Rogers 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 ✉ Tethered and battery-powered devices that interface with neural tissues can restrict natural motions and prevent social interac- tions in animal models, thereby limiting the utility of these devices in behavioural neuroscience research. In this Review Article, we discuss recent progress in the development of miniaturized and ultralightweight devices as neuroengineering platforms that are wireless, battery-free and fully implantable, with capabilities that match or exceed those of wired or battery-powered alter- natives. Such classes of advanced neural interfaces with optical, electrical or fluidic functionality can also combine recording and stimulation modalities for closed-loop applications in basic studies or in the practical treatment of abnormal physiological processes. dvances in electronic, optoelectronic and microfluidic inter- systems that exploit schemes in wireless power transfer, communi- faces with living biosystems serve as foundations for ver- cation and digital control to support applications in neuroscience satile devices capable of interrogating and modulating the research and more generally in the monitoring of broad types of A 1–5 31–33 behaviour of the central and peripheral nervous systems . Beyond physiological processes . their use in fundamental research, interfaces to neural tissues are Commonly used -
Origin of the Arthropod Mandible
Origin of the arthropod mandible SIR - Arthropods, vast in number and for investigating the structure of the with enormous variation in body forms, mandibles (whole limb versus limb base are a fascinating group. We have found only). In the millipede Oxidus gracilis (a in that myriapods (millipedes, centipedes the figure), Dll is expressed in the distal and allies) have different mandibular ori part of the mandibles, as predicted in ref. gins from insects and crustaceans, which is 4, indicating their whole-limb structure. of consequence for resolving phylogenetic In light of the recent discovery of the relationships among major groups of Cambrian fossil whose head and trunk arthropods. appendages were long and Ieg-like8, the For more than a century, the phylo whole-limb mandibles of today's myriapods genetic relationships among the main probably represent an ancestral arthropod arthropod lineages have been a topic of state. Thus, we have a testable hypothesis: lively discussion. Almost every imaginable if myriapods and insects are indeed sister combination has been proposed, but at taxa, then Dll should also be expressed in present only two hypotheses are seriously insect mandibles. But Panganiban et al. 9 considered: the 'TCC' view, which sepa have shown that Dll is not expressed in rates trilobites, crustaceans and cheliccr mandibles of modem insects. To examine ates from the rest of the arthropods1, and whether the absence of Dll is characteristic the 'mandibulate' theory, which groups of the whole insect lineage, we included in together crustaceans, insects and myri our analysis the primitively wingless insect apods2. One feature is common to both: Thennobia domestica, and found that Dll is the close relationship between myriapods not expressed in the mandibles of this and insects. -
The Evolution and Development of Arthropod Appendages
Evolving Form and Function: Fossils and Development Proceedings of a symposium honoring Adolf Seilacher for his contributions to paleontology, in celebration of his 80th birthday Derek E. G. Briggs, Editor April 1– 2, 2005 New Haven, Connecticut A Special Publication of the Peabody Museum of Natural History Yale University New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A. December 2005 Evolving Form and Function: Fossils and Development Proceedings of a symposium honoring Adolf Seilacher for his contributions to paleontology, in celebration of his 80th birthday A Special Publication of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University Derek E.G. Briggs, Editor These papers are the proceedings of Evolving Form and Function: Fossils and Development, a symposium held on April 1–2, 2005, at Yale University. Yale Peabody Museum Publications Jacques Gauthier, Curatorial Editor-in-Chief Lawrence F. Gall, Executive Editor Rosemary Volpe, Publications Editor Joyce Gherlone, Publications Assistant Design by Rosemary Volpe • Index by Aardvark Indexing Cover: Fossil specimen of Scyphocrinites sp., Upper Silurian, Morocco (YPM 202267). Purchased for the Yale Peabody Museum by Dr. Seilacher. Photograph by Jerry Domian. © 2005 Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University. All rights reserved. Frontispiece: Photograph of Dr. Adolf Seilacher by Wolfgang Gerber. Used with permission. All rights reserved. In addition to occasional Special Publications, the Yale Peabody Museum publishes the Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Postilla and the Yale University Publications in Anthropology. A com- plete list of titles, along with submission guidelines for contributors, can be obtained from the Yale Peabody Museum website or requested from the Publications Office at the address below. -
Antennal Vibrations in Mosquitoes 2729 the Loudspeaker and the Preparation, It Was Therefore Necessary 1000 to Measure the Particle Velocity Directly
The Journal of Experimental Biology 202, 2727–2738 (1999) 2727 Printed in Great Britain © The Company of Biologists Limited 1999 JEB2230 MOSQUITO HEARING: SOUND-INDUCED ANTENNAL VIBRATIONS IN MALE AND FEMALE AEDES AEGYPTI MARTIN C. GÖPFERT*, HANS BRIEGEL AND DANIEL ROBERT Institute for Zoology, Laboratory of Bioacoustics, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland *e-mail: [email protected] Accepted 26 July; published on WWW 30 September 1999 Summary Male mosquitoes are attracted by the flight sounds of flight sounds. The antennal hairs of males are resonantly conspecific females. In males only, the antennal flagellum tuned to frequencies between approximately 2600 and bears a large number of long hairs and is therefore said to 3100 Hz and are therefore stiffly coupled to, and move be plumose. As early as 1855, it was proposed that this together with, the flagellar shaft when stimulated at remarkable antennal anatomy served as a sound-receiving biologically relevant frequencies around 380 Hz. Because of structure. In the present study, the sound-induced this stiff coupling, forces acting on the hairs can be vibrations of the antennal flagellum in male and female transmitted to the shaft and thus to the auditory sensory Aedes aegypti were compared, and the functional organ at the base of the flagellum, a process that is proposed significance of the flagellar hairs for audition was examined. to improve acoustic sensitivity. Indeed, the mechanical In both males and females, the antennae are resonantly sensitivity of the male antenna not only exceeds the tuned mechanical systems that move as simple forced sensitivity of the female antenna but also those of all other damped harmonic oscillators when acoustically stimulated. -
Arthropod Fossil Data Increase Congruence of Morphological and Molecular Phylogenies
ARTICLE Received 14 Jan 2013 | Accepted 21 Aug 2013 | Published 30 Sep 2013 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3485 Arthropod fossil data increase congruence of morphological and molecular phylogenies David A. Legg1,2,3, Mark D. Sutton1 & Gregory D. Edgecombe2 The relationships of major arthropod clades have long been contentious, but refinements in molecular phylogenetics underpin an emerging consensus. Nevertheless, molecular phylogenies have recovered topologies that morphological phylogenies have not, including the placement of hexapods within a paraphyletic Crustacea, and an alliance between myriapods and chelicerates. Here we show enhanced congruence between molecular and morphological phylogenies based on 753 morphological characters for 309 fossil and Recent panarthropods. We resolve hexapods within Crustacea, with remipedes as their closest extant relatives, and show that the traditionally close relationship between myriapods and hexapods is an artefact of convergent character acquisition during terrestrialisation. The inclusion of fossil morphology mitigates long-branch artefacts as exemplified by pycnogonids: when fossils are included, they resolve with euchelicerates rather than as a sister taxon to all other euarthropods. 1 Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK. 2 Department of Earth Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK. 3 Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford OX1 3PW, UK. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to D.A.L. (email: [email protected]). NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | 4:2485 | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3485 | www.nature.com/naturecommunications 1 & 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved. ARTICLE NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3485 rthropods are diverse, disparate, abundant and ubiqui- including all major extinct and extant panarthropod groups.