Anatomy of the antennal dorsal organ in female of Neodryinus typhlocybae (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae): A peculiar sensory structure possibly involved in perception of host vibration

Neodryinus typhlocybae (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) is a natural enemy of the planthopper Metcalfa pruinosa, which was introduced from North America into Europe and has become established in various regions as a pest species. Vibrational signals play a crucial role in the communication of M. pruinosa, which appears to be exploited by N. typhlocybae. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy have shown that the antennae of N. typhlocybae females have peculiar and complex sensory structures: deep longitudinal grooves that house long sensilla trichodea, termed here “Antennal Dorsal Organs.” Such structures were not present on male antennae. These sensilla extend for the length of the grooves, without contact with the groove cuticle. Their hair shaft is empty and aporous, and inserted into a specialized socket, underneath which there is a cuticular ampulla‐like chamber. Each sensillum is associated with two sensory neurons: one terminates at the proximal end of the dendritic sheath; the other continues into the sensillum sinus and is enclosed in the dendritic sheath. This second sensory neuron then enters the ampulla‐like chamber through the circular opening, and then terminates with a conspicuous tubular body at the shaft base. The possible involvement of this peculiar structure in the context of host recognition mechanism is discussed. J. Morphol. 277:128–137, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cuticular sensilla on newly hatched larvae of Gasterophilus intestinalis and Oestrus ovis

Abstract. Cuticular sensilla on newly hatched larvae of Gasterophilus intestinalis De Geer (Diptera: Gasterophilidae) and Oestrus ovis (L.) were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Two types of trichoid sensilla, two types of coeloconic sensilla and a pit sensillum were present on the thoracic and abdominal segments of G. intestinalis larvae. Sensilla on larvae of O. ovis were similar although only one type of trichoid sensillum was present. Total number of sensilla were higher for O. ovis than for G. intestinalis (248 v . 214). Variation in numbers of sensilla is consistent with the concept that increasing numbers of sensilla are associated with increasingly complex searching behaviour required to locate suitable habitats for development.     

Trace elements in ancient Peruvian mummy hair: A preliminary report

Hair samples of 46 prehistoric mummies from five different pre-Inca sites in Peru were analyzed for Ca, Sr, Ni, Mn, and Ba by DCP/AES. The five sites displayed differing burial customs: whereas the dead of Cahuachi (n=13), Huayuri (n=2) and Brujo (n=5) had been interred unwrapped in simple stone pits, the mummies of Las Trancas (n=17) and Pacatnamu (n=9) had been granted protection by fabrics and wooden coffins. At the sites with no protection, the hair samples contained extremely high concentrations of Ca and Sr which by far exceeded the usual physiological ranges. This can probably be explained by contamination from the surrounding soil. In contrast, the protected depositions of Las Trancas and Pacatnamu exhibited Ca and Sr concentrations within the present range of variation. This may indicate that favourable conditions had prevented contamination in these cases. For Mn the same trend can be observed, both Cahuachi and Huayuri samples showed markedly increased values. For Ni and Ba on the other hand no correlation with the type of interment was found. In the two non-contaminated series, the mean values of Mn, Ba, and Ni were considerably higher in Las Trancas than in Pacatnamu. As Mn, Ni, and Ba tend to occur in higher concentrations in vegetable than in animal food items, these differences may indicate a differential availability of animal protein at the two locations     

Sensory projections of identified coxal hair sensilla of the scorpionHeterometrus fulvipes (Scorpionidae)

The topography of long hair sensilla on the coxae of walking legs and pedipalps of the scorpionHeterometrus fulvipes is described. Identified long hair sensilla are cobalt filled, and central projections of sensory fibres are reported for the first time in the suboesophageal ganglion of this scorpion. The afferent fibres arising from each long hair sensilla segregate into ventral, dorsomedial and dorsal tracts upon their entry into the suboesophageal ganglion. These transverse tracts bifurcate towards the middle of the leg neuromere and form three ipsilateral, plurisegrnental, longitudinal sensory pathways. Filling a pair of bilaterally distributed long hair sensilla shows bilaterally arranged longitudinal afferent tracts interconnected by distinct transverse commissures. Similar patterns of sensory projections are observed when filling homologous hairs on other legs and pedipalps. Numerous fine collaterals arise from the longitudinal sensory trancts that subdivide and end in small blebs presumed to be presynaptic endings. The dorsal and dorsomedial longitudinal tracts and their respective commissures are in close association with the dendritic arborisations of pedipalpal and leg motor neurons, suggesting direct contact between them. The probable functions of these multisegmental hair afferent pathways are discussed.     

Cell degeneration during early development of hymenopteran olfactory sensilla

The imaginal pore plates of Hymenoptera apocrita so far examined embody five or six envelope cells respectively. In early developmental stages, however, supernumerary envelope cells have been found. The results are discussed in the context of cell death as a developmental phenomenon.     

Different sensitivities of the sugar receptor of the lateral styloconic sensillum in fourth- and sixth-instar larvae of the spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana

Female fourth- and sixth-instar larvae, Choristoneura fumiferana, were tested individually for the response of the sugar cell on the lateral styloconic sensillum to 25 mM/l concentrations of 12 carbohydrates. The spruce budworm showed an age-related change in responsiveness of the sugar cell. The order of stimulating effectiveness for fourth-instars was melibiose > sucrose > raffinose.These storage di- and trisaccharides are present in the host plant at the beginning of budbreak. Sixth-instars responded to sucrose > fructose> m-inositol. These findings are in accordance with those of a previous behavioural study on feeding preferences of sixth-instars. The response for both melibiose and raffinose does not change from fourth- to sixth-instars; however, it does for sucrose, fructose and m- inositol.     

Morphological and electrophysiological characteristics of the epipharyngeal sensilla of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

One pair of gustatory sensilla was found on the epipharynx ofBombyx mori larvae, and some morphological and electrophysiological characteristics of the epipharyngeal sensilla were investigated. They are sensilla coeloconica composed of a small papilla with a pore at the tip and a swelling of cuticle encircling the papilla. Three bipolar neurons innervate each sensillum. One neuron is an inositol receptor which responds to inositol only. Another cell responds with action potentials of relatively large amplitude to some feeding deterrent substances, such as strychnine nitrate. The thresholds of these cells for inositol and strychnine nitrate are approximately 10⁻⁴ M and 10⁻⁷ M, respectively. At least two kinds of spikes can be observed when these sensilla are stimulated with some salts and acids. Dose-response relationships and time courses of responses to inositol and strychnine nitrate were also examined in this study.     

Heparan Sulfate Regulates Hair Follicle and Sebaceous Gland Morphogenesis and Homeostasis

Hair follicle (HF) morphogenesis and cycling are a result of intricate autonomous epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Once the first HF cycle is complete it repeatedly undergoes cyclic transformations. Heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans are found on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix where they influence a variety of biological processes by interacting with physiologically important proteins, such as growth factors. Inhibition of heparanase (an HS endoglycosidase) in in vitro cultured HFs has been shown to induce a catagen-like process. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the precise role of HS in HF morphogenesis and cycling. An inducible tetratransgenic mouse model was generated to excise exostosin glycosyltransferase 1 (Ext1) in keratin 14-positive cells from P21. Interestingly, EXT1^{StEpiΔ/StEpiΔ} mice presented solely anagen HFs. Moreover, waxing the fur to synchronize the HFs revealed accelerated hair regrowth in the EXT1^{StEpiΔ/StEpiΔ} mice and hindered cycling into catagen. The ablation of HS in the interfollicular epidermal cells of mature skin led to the spontaneous formation of new HFs and an increase in Sonic Hedgehog expression resembling wild-type mice at P0, thereby indicating that the HS/Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway regulates HF formation during embryogenesis and prevents HF formation in mature skin. Finally, the knock-out of HS also led to the morphogenesis and hyperplasia of sebaceous glands and sweat glands in mature mice, leading to exacerbated sebum production and accumulation on the skin surface. Therefore, our findings clearly show that an intricate control of HS levels is required for HF, sebaceous gland, and sweat gland morphogenesis and HF cycling.     

松褐天牛触角感器的扫描电镜观察

利用扫描电镜对松褐天牛Monochamus alternatusHope触角上的感器进行了观察和研究。结果表明:松褐天牛触角上共存在着6种感器,即毛形感器(Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型)、B hm氏鬃毛、锥形感器、耳形感器、钟形感器、角形感器。并对松褐天牛触角不同种类感器的形态、分布以及雌雄感器在分布和数量上的差别进行了描述。