Immunocytochemical identification of proctolinlike immunoreactivity in the terminal ganglion and hindgut of the cockroach Periplaneta americana (L.)

Abstract

In the American cockroach, the distribution and connections of neuronal elements of the terminal ganglion-proctodeal nerve-hindgut system were investigated by means of immunohistochemical methods and axonal CoCl2 iontophoresis. Proctolinlike immunoreactivity was localized within neurons of the terminal ganglion projecting into the proctodeal nerve on the one hand, and in nerve cells without a direct connection to this system on the other. Immunohistochemically, in whole mount preparations fibres of the proctodeal nerve and terminal structures in the hindgut musculature exhibit strong proctolinlike immunoreactivity. At the light- and electron-microscopic levels the pathways of about 30 somata of the proctodeal neural system were characterized by cobalt chloride iontophoresis. The relationships of cobalt filled and immunoreactive neuronal structures are discussed.

Purification, partial sequencing and characterization of an insect membrane dipeptidyl aminopeptidase that degrades the insect neuropeptide proctolin

“…This neuropeptide has been detected throughout the nervous system of insects [2][3][4] and identified in neurones with a widespread distribution within the central nervous system of arthropods [2][3][4][5]. Proctolin is considered to have a neurotransmitter/ neuromodulator role in visceral and skeletal muscles [1,3,4,6,7].…”

Effect of allatostatin and proctolin on antennal pulsatile organ and hindgut muscle in the cockroach, Diploptera punctata

“…It is entirely possible that allatostatin and proctolin are produced in the same cells. The position of allatostatin-positive cells in the terminal ganglion in D. punctata bears a strong resemblance to those that are demonstrated to be proctolin producing in P. americana [13,18].…”

“…5a). Lateral and posterior neurons with immunoreactive material also occur in positions corresponding to some of the 15-30 cells demonstrated in P. americana to fill with cobalt chloride from the proctodeal nerve [13] (Fig. 5b).…”

“…5b). The cobalt filling showed that cells giving rise to the proctodeal nerve send fibers to both left and right sides [13]. Electron micrographs of the muscles of the hindgut show both allatostatin-like immunopositive and negative granules in the neurosecretory axons and terminals (Fig.…”

Cockroach allatostatin-immunoreactive neurons and effects of cockroach allatostatin in earwigs

“…The axons of the ventral cells extended into the abdominal nerve XI (Fig. 2g) and the dorsal medial cells are presumed to extend into this nerve as they have been shown to do in other orthopteroid insects (Eckert et al, 1981). In addition to the allatostatin-immunopositive cells of the last ganglion, numerous immunopositive peripheral cells and their projections surrounded the nerves in that region.…”