昆虫弦音器及其声音感受分子机制

弦音器是昆虫类特有的一种机械感受器,亦称弦音感受器或剑梢感受器。它主要具有感知外界声压和体内肌肉运动的听觉功能,研究弦音器的机能结构对揭秘昆虫听觉的神经机制有重要的科学意义。本文从弦音器多样性和进化入手,重点综述了弦音器的微细结构、基因功能定位、声音感受分子机制及其声压增幅分子生物物理学原理,为昆虫听觉仿生学的研究提供了理论依据。     

昆虫听觉相关基因的研究进展

听觉对于昆虫的求偶、同种竞争、躲避天敌以及寄生昆虫寻找寄主等方面具有非常重要的作用。早年人们对昆虫听觉系统的形态学、生理学及行为学等方面进行了广泛研究。而近年来,研究人员对昆虫听觉分子机理开展了大量研究,对昆虫听觉相关基因包括Atonal(Ato)基因、Spalt(Sal)基因等十几种基因进行了结构分析和功能研究。本文综述了国内外昆虫听觉相关基因的研究进展。     

昆虫温度感受器的结构和功能

昆虫中拥有各种不同类型的温度感受器,有的种类还能感知红外辐射。介绍了不同类群中温度感受器,包括红外感受器的类型和功能,描述了各种感受器结构,特别是电子显微镜下超微结构的特点。     

东亚飞蝗Locusta migratoria manilensis Meyen的感觉器官和附肢的组织构造

有关蝗虫感觉器官的研究报告不很多,其中值得指出的有Slifer(1935,1936,1938,1950,1951,1954)对于几种蝗虫的弦音器、勃氏器、具橛感器等研究,McFarlane(1953)对于小迁移蝗的弦音器研究,Marshall(1945)对于红腿蝗上唇感觉器的研究,其他尚有Fulton(1928)对于直翅目听器的研究,Friedrich(1930)对于直翅目胫节上具橛感器的比较研究,和徐凤早等(1952)对于几种蝗科昆虫的腹昕器和蟋蟀科与螽蟖科昆虫的足听器研究等。     

昆虫单个感觉器记录技术研究进展

单感器记录技术是一种昆虫细胞外电生理技术,可以测量昆虫单个感受器对刺激物的电生理反应。该技术有助于探明昆虫嗅觉和味觉感受器对不同信息化合物的电生理响应机制,将单感器记录技术与其他技术相结合,不仅可以阐明昆虫嗅觉反应的分子机制,还可以研制昆虫行为调节剂、检测挥发性有机化合物的生物传感器。本文介绍了单感器记录仪的结构和昆虫单感器记录的原理,并对单感器记录技术在昆虫学研究方面的应用进行了综述,以期为探明昆虫感受化学信息物质的机理和应用提供依据。     

《昆虫学年评》第33卷

<正> 本卷共ⅹⅱ+550页,收入23篇文章,依次为:杂交细胞瘤库(hybridoma libraries)在研究果蝇遗传及发育中的作用;IPM实施过程的估价;昆虫机械感受器的传导机制;蛾类的听觉、防卫及通讯;食针叶树的卷叶蛾属 Choristoneura昆虫的性外激素及行为学;蓟类植物昆虫区系的进化和生态;虎甲的生物学;神经毒剂对昆虫行为的亚致死影响;医学病毒属 Phlebrovirus的病毒及其传毒者;大气结构和运动对昆虫迁飞的影响;半翅目昆虫的化学生态学;温室害虫的生物防     

昆虫的听觉器官

昆虫的听器是一类对声波具有特异感受作用的器官,对其生存具有非常重要的意义。昆虫的听器主要有听觉毛、江氏器和鼓膜听器3种类型。本文主要介绍了昆虫3种听器的结构和功能特点,并从系统发生和个体发育角度介绍了鼓膜听器的演化过程。     

丝光绿蝇触角鞭节感受器官超显微形态研究

【目的】观察研究重要的医学昆虫丝光绿蝇Lucilia sericata触角感受器的形态,以明确不同类型感受器的结构及功能。【方法】采用透射电镜与激光共聚焦显微镜技术相结合的方法。【结果】明确并详细描述了毛型感受器、锥型感受器、腔锥型感受器及感觉囊的形态结构。【结论】毛型感受器和锥型感受器可能为化学感受器,腔锥型感受器可能为温湿度感受器;感觉囊中的无孔锥型感受器可能为温湿度感受器,类锥型感受器及类腔锥型感受器可能为化学感受器,各类型感受器同时行使功能,表明感觉囊为一个功能复合体。蝇类触角的感器类型多样、囊结构复杂,可作为研究昆虫触角感器形态、功能及演化的模式类群。     

蜚蠊目(六足总纲,昆虫纲)八种昆虫触角感受器的扫描电镜观察

获得蜚蠊目昆虫触角感受器外部形态的资料,为蟑螂的系统学研究积累一些新的基础资料.使用KYKYAMRAY 1000B型扫描电镜蜚蠊目8种昆虫触角感受器进行观察和拍照,然后进行比较分析.观察结果表明,蜚蠊目昆虫的触角均分布有毛形感器、刺形感器和锥形感器.蜚蠊目昆虫触角感受器的外部形态在科、属水平表现的差异程度与昆虫的分类地位相符合.触角感受器的形态结构也许能成为鉴别蜚蠊目科和属的有用特征.     

冬虫夏草寄主蒲氏钩蝠蛾雄成虫触角感受器的观察

蒲氏钩蝠蛾Thitarodes pui(Zhang et al.)是冬虫夏草寄主昆虫之一,其雄成虫触角感受器在求偶交配过程中起主要作用。本研究应用电子扫描显微镜对蒲氏钩蝠蛾雄成虫触角上的化学感受器进行观察。结果发现,雄成虫触角上有7种感受器,即毛形感受器、刺形感受器、锥形感受器、腔锥形感受器、钟形感受器、Bhm氏鬃毛和鳞形感受器,其中以毛形感受器和鳞形感受器数目最多,腔锥感受器又分为长栓形和短栓形两种。综合本研究结果与已知蝠蛾的触角感受器,发现蝠蛾触角感受器在表面结构、感受器类型等方面与其它鳞翅目昆虫存在差异。     

The scolopidial accessory organ in the Jerusalem cricket (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae)

Multiple mechanosensory organs form the subgenual organ complex in orthopteroid insects, located in the proximal tibia. In several Ensifera (Orthoptera), a small chordotonal organ, the so-called accessory organ, is the most posterior part of this sensory complex. In order to document the presence of this accessory organ among the Ensifera, the chordotonal sensilla and their innervation in the posterior tibia of two species of Jerusalem crickets (Stenopelmatidae: Stenopelmatus) is described. The sensory structures were stained by axonal tracing. Scolopidial sensilla occur in the posterior subgenual organ and the accessory organ in all leg pairs. The accessory organ contains 10–17 scolopidial sensilla. Both groups of sensilla are commonly spatially separated. However, in few cases neuronal fibres occurred between both organs. The two sensillum groups are considered as separate organs by the general spatial separation and innervation by different nerve branches. A functional role for mechanoreception is considered: since the accessory organ is located closely under the cuticle, sensilla may be suited to detect vibrations transferred over the leg's surface. This study extends the known taxa with an accessory organ, which occurs in several taxa of Ensifera. Comparative neuroanatomy thus suggests that the accessory organ may be conserved at least in Tettigoniidea.     

The fine structure of the cockroach subgenual organ

This paper describes the fine structure of the cockroach subgenual organ, a complex ciliated mechanoreceptor that detects vibrations in the substrate upon which the animal stands. Located beneath the knee in each walking leg, the cockroach subgenual organ is a thin, fan-shaped flap of tissue slung across the dorsal blood space of the tibia at right angles to the leg's long axis. It is innervated by approximately 50 chordotonal sensilla. The fine structure of the chordotonal sensilla is is described in detail ; possible transducer sites are discussed.     

Hearing in tsetse flies? Morphology and mechanics of a putative auditory organ

Tympanal hearing organs are widely used by insects to detect sound pressure. Such ears are relatively uncommon in the order Diptera, having only been reported in two families thus far. This study describes the general anatomical organization and experimentally examines the mechanical resonant properties of an unusual membranous structure situated on the ventral prothorax of the tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae). Anatomically, the prosternal membrane is backed by an air filled chamber and attaches to a pair of sensory chordotonal organs. Mechanically, the membrane shows a broad resonance around 5.3-7.2 kHz. Unlike previously reported dipteran tympana, a directional response to sound was not found in G. morsitans. Collectively, the morphology, the resonant properties and acoustic sensitivity of the tsetse prothorax are consistent with those of the tympanal hearing organs in Ormia sp. and Emblemasoma sp. (Tachinidae and Sarcophagidae). The production of sound by several species of tsetse flies has been repeatedly documented. Yet, clear behavioural evidence for acoustic behaviour is sparse and inconclusive. Together with sound production, the presence of an ear-like structure raises the enticing possibility of auditory communication in tsetse flies and renews interest in the sensory biology of these medically important insects.     

Microscopic analysis of mechanosensory system monitoring the dynamic claw actions in the tenebrionid beetle Zophobas atratus

Many insects have a pair of claws on each leg. The distribution of mechanoreceptors that monitor claw actions was examined in the tenebrionid beetle Zophobas atratus. Each claw has 25–45 campaniform sensilla (CS) that detect the claw’s deformation due to substrate engagement. Five CS clusters are observed around the end of the 5th tarsomere (Ta5) in a concave, socket-like structure. The 1st cluster, containing 2–5 CS, is embedded in the unguifer to which the claws are articulated. The symmetrical 2nd and 3rd clusters, each containing two CS, are located bilaterally in the ventrolateral grooves of the sidewall of the socket, into which the unguis retractor plate slides. The 4th and 5th clusters, containing 1–2 CS with two hair sensilla, are localized near the ventrolateral ridges of the socket into which the basal portion of the claw is pressed during maximal claw flexion. In addition, Ta5 has a chordotonal organ of six sensory cells to monitor claw extension. These results suggest that the mechanoreceptor system may directly monitor the precise mechanical states of individual claws and provide the central nervous system with the sensory information required for fine feedback control of movements of the pretarsus and other leg segments for locomotion and other purposes.     

A novel hearing specialization in the New Zealand bigeye,Pempheris adspersa

The New Zealand bigeye, Pempheris adspersa, is a nocturnal planktivore and has recently been found to be an active sound producer. The rostral end of the swim bladder lies adjacent to Baudelot''s ligament which spans between the bulla and the cleithrum bone of the pectoral girdle. The aim of this study was to use the auditory evoked potential technique to physiologically test the possibility that this structure provides an enhanced sensitivity to sound pressure in the bigeye. At 100 Hz, bigeye had hearing sensitivity similar to that of goldfish (species with a mechanical connection between the swim bladder and the inner ear mediated by the Weberian ossicles) and were much more sensitive than other teleosts without ancillary hearing structures. Severing Baudelot''s ligament bilaterally resulted in a marked decrease in hearing sensitivity, as did swim bladder puncture or lateral line blockage. These results show that bigeye have an enhanced sensitivity to sound pressure and provide experimental evidence that the functional basis of this sensitivity represents a novel hearing specialization in fish involving the swim bladder, Baudelot''s ligament and the lateral line.     

The fine structure of haltere sensilla in the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala (Meig.), with scanning electron microscopic observations on the haltere surface

The dipteran haltere incorporates large numbers of regularly disposed mechanoreceptors providing the sensory input enabling the vibrating haltere to function as a gyroscopic organ of equilibrium. Campaniform sensilla of the basal and scapal regions have been investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy, and these observations are augmented by scanning electron studies of the cuticle overlying the groups of sensilla. Each sensillum possesses a specialized fan-shaped terminal containing a complex and ordered association of microtubules and filaments. The transmission of stress to this region via the cuticle, and its possible role in transduction is considered. The fine structure of apical and basal sections of the distal sensory process and associated sheath cells is described; the functional significance of the distribution of mitochondria and other components is discussed. The organization of haltere chordotonal sensilla is described briefly, and compared with other mechanoreceptors with particular reference to microtubules and scolopale structures.     

The central morphology of mechanoreceptor afferents in the metathoracic leg of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Insecta)

The sensory arborizations of the femoral chordotonal organ (FECO), trochanteral campaniform sensilla (CS) and the trochanteral hairplate (THP) are restricted to the ipsilateral hemiganglion and possess large dendritic fields in the dorsal and ventral neuropiles. The efferent projections of the fast (Df) and the slow (Ds) depressor motoneurons project into the same areas. Three groups of trichoid sensilla located on the coxal and trochanteral cuticular walls have central contralateral projections and in one case intersegmental projections. All sensory projections terminate either just lateral of or in the Ventral Association Centre (VAC). Comparisons with the mechanoreceptors of other insects reveal similar projection patterns for some proprioceptors and non-homologous central configurations for others.     

The midline metathoracic ear of the praying mantis,Mantis religiosa

Summary The praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, is unique in possessing a single, tympanal auditory organ located in the ventral midline of its body between the metathoracic coxae. The ear is in a deep groove and consists of two tympana facing each other and backed by large air sacs. Neural transduction takes place in a structure at the anterior end of the groove. This tympanal organ contains 32 chordotonal sensilla organized into three groups, two of which are 180° out of line with the one attaching directly to the tympanum. Innervation is provided by Nerve root 7 from the metathoracic ganglion. Cobalt backfills show that the auditory neuropile is a series of finger-like projections terminating ipsilaterally near the midline, primarily near DC III and SMC. The auditory neuropile thus differs from the pattern common to all other insects previously studied.     

Adaptive reconfiguration of a reflex circuit during different motor programmes in the locust

The cuticle strain which develops in the hindleg tibiae when a locust prepares to kick, or when the tibia thrusts against an obstacle, is detected by two campaniform sensilla, which reflexly excite the fast extensor tibiae motoneuron, some of the flexor tibiae motoneurons and nonspiking interneurons. The reflex excitation is adaptive for the extensor motoneuron during both co-activation and thrusting, but is only adaptive for the flexor motoneurons during co-activation, and is maladaptive during thrusting. We show that the femoral chordotonal organ, which monitors tibial position, controls the efficacy of the strain feedback. The campaniform sensilla-induced depolarization in the extensor motoneuron is about twice as large when the tendon is in mid position (reflecting a tibial-femoral angle of 90°) than when fully stretched (reflecting tibial flexion), while in the flexors the reverse is true. The amplitudes of excitatory postsynaptic potentials evoked by single campaniform sensilla spikes, are, however, not affected. Our data suggests that the chordotonal organ modulates the gain of the strain feedback onto the motoneurons by exciting interneuronal circuits whose output sums with the former. Thrusting typically occurs with the tibia partially extended, therefore the actions of the chordotonal organ support the production of a maximal thrusting force. Accepted: 27 December 1996