Multisensory convergence in the mushroom bodies of ants and bees

Gronenberg, Wulfila; López-Riquelme, Germán Octavio

doi:10.1556/abiol.55.2004.1-4.5

Cited by 64 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The visual signals, on the other hand, do not undergo integration in a glomeruli system. Instead the visual signals, for the most part, are restricted to only lateral connections with other sensory neurons and thus may require further upstream processing (Gronenberg and Lopez-Riquelme, 2004). This dissimilarity in sensory processing may underscore the ultrastructural differences that we observed.…”

Section: Bouton and Synaptic Organizationmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…Although these boutons or microglomeruli have been described in honey bees (Gronenberg, 2001;Groh et al, 2004) at the light microscopic level and in ants at the electron microscopic (EM) level (Steiger, 1967;Seid et al, 2005), no study has described the differences between the lip and collar at the ultrastructural level. Interestingly, dendrites from a single Kenyon cell are known to send projections into both the lip and the collar, thus forming synapses with the axons of two different sensory systems (Farris et al, 2001;Gronenberg, 2001;Gronenberg and Lopez-Riquelme, 2004). How are the different signals from these two sensory systems perceived?…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ultrastructure and synaptic differences of the boutons of the projection neurons between the lip and collar regions of the mushroom bodies in the ant, Cataglyphis albicans

Seid¹

2007

J of Comparative Neurology

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The mushroom bodies of insects are viewed as key neuropils for sensory integration and perhaps learning and memory. In Hymenoptera, particularly ants, the calyx of the mushroom bodies is divided into two main regions, the lip and the collar. Although most ants are highly dependent on olfaction and have enlarged calyces comprised mostly of lip, some ant groups are also highly visual and have well-developed collars. The desert ant Cataglyphis albicans, known for its navigational abilities, shifts from the dark olfactory demanding nest interior to the visually demanding desert environment, and unlike many other ants their mushroom bodies are comprised of both a well-developed lip and collar. In this study, using electron microscope serial-sectioning and 3D-reconstructions, we show that axonal processes that innervate the lip and collar are inherently different in structure and synaptic connectivity. The boutons of the lip are larger, with more synaptic vesicles and larger synapses than the collar, while boutons of the collar have more postsynaptic partners per synapse. Our morphological findings suggest that the signals originating from olfactory projection neurons that innervate the lip appear stronger and more likely to propagate than signals that innervate the collar, while the signals entering the collar appear relatively weaker and are further integrated between more postsynaptic partners. We discuss the differences of the signaling properties between the lip and collar projection neurons and suggest that the greater postsynaptic integration in the collar is presumably for spatial processing for visual navigation in Cataglyphis.

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Section: Bouton and Synaptic Organizationmentioning

confidence: 65%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrastructure and synaptic differences of the boutons of the projection neurons between the lip and collar regions of the mushroom bodies in the ant, Cataglyphis albicans

Seid¹

2007

J of Comparative Neurology

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“…The hymenopteran calyx has a conspicuous laminar structures in the double calyces: the lip, collar, and basal ring (Mobbs, 1982). It receives olfactory input from the AL, visual input from the optic lobe, and putative gustatory input from the SOG, with distinct input areas for each modality (Mobbs, 1982;Abel et al, 2001;Ehmer and Gronenberg, 2002;Schröter and Menzel, 2003;Gronenberg and Lopez-Riquelme, 2004). Different strata in the calyx correspond to specific terminal areas in the lobes (Mobbs, 1982;.…”

Section: Comparison Of the Mb Structures Between Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuronal assemblies of the Drosophila mushroom body

Tanaka

Tanimoto

Ito

2008

J of Comparative Neurology

460

624

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The mushroom body (MB) of the insect brain has important roles in odor learning and memory and in diverse other brain functions. To elucidate the anatomical basis underlying its function, we studied how the MB of Drosophila is organized by its intrinsic and extrinsic neurons. We screened for the GAL4 enhancer-trap strains that label specific subsets of these neurons and identified seven subtypes of Kenyon cells and three other intrinsic neuron types. Laminar organization of the Kenyon cell axons divides the pedunculus into at least five concentric strata. The alpha', beta', alpha, and beta lobes are each divided into three strata, whereas the gamma lobe appears more homogeneous. The outermost stratum of the alpha/beta lobes is specifically connected with a small, protruded subregion of the calyx, the accessory calyx, which does not receive direct olfactory input. As for the MB extrinsic neurons (MBENs), we found three types of antennal lobe projection neurons, among which two are novel. In addition, we resolved 17 other types of MBENs that arborize in the calyx, lobes, and pedunculus. Lobe-associated MBENs arborize in only specific areas of the lobes, being restricted along their longitudinal axes, forming two to five segmented zones in each lobe. The laminar arrangement of the Kenyon cell axons and segmented organization of the MBENs together divide the lobes into smaller synaptic units, possibly facilitating characteristic interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic neurons in each unit for different functional activities along the longitudinal lobe axes and between lobes. Structural differences between lobes are also discussed.

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“…First, a study of the ant's subesophageal ganglion might yield information on the neural networks responsible for fine motor and gross motor programs (Paul and Gronenberg 2002;Gronenberg and López-Riquelme 2004;Mares et al 2005;Seid et al 2005). Second, correlating the variation in spine length among workers according to task performance might yield insight into the division of labor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opposable spines facilitate fine and gross object manipulation in fire ants

Cassill

Greco

Silwal

et al. 2006

Naturwissenschaften

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Ants inhabit diverse terrestrial biomes from the Sahara Desert to the Arctic tundra. One factor contributing to the ants' successful colonization of diverse geographical regions is their ability to manipulate objects when excavating nests, capturing, transporting and rendering prey or grooming, feeding and transporting helpless brood. This paper is the first to report the form and function of opposable spines on the foretarsi of queens and workers used during fine motor and gross motor object manipulation in the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. In conjunction with their mandibles, queens and workers used their foretarsi to grasp and rotate eggs, push or pull thread-like objects out of their way or push excavated soil pellets behind them for disposal by other workers. Opposable spines were found on the foretarsi of workers from seven of eight other ant species suggesting that they might be a common feature in the Formicidae.

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Multisensory convergence in the mushroom bodies of ants and bees

Cited by 64 publications

References 12 publications

Ultrastructure and synaptic differences of the boutons of the projection neurons between the lip and collar regions of the mushroom bodies in the ant, Cataglyphis albicans

Ultrastructure and synaptic differences of the boutons of the projection neurons between the lip and collar regions of the mushroom bodies in the ant, Cataglyphis albicans

Neuronal assemblies of the Drosophila mushroom body

Opposable spines facilitate fine and gross object manipulation in fire ants

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