Eric Hallberg

Arthropod sensilla: Morphology and phylogenetic considerations

The structures of different types of arthropod sensilla are compared and theories regarding the evolution of these sensory organs are presented. Arthropod sensilla are built according to a common plan, and are probably homologous to scolopidia. Certain similarities in the structure of sensilla in different arthropod groups can be the result of adaptations to specific environments. The structure of sensilla in insect groups, which are regarded to be ancestral, do not appear to be less sophisticated than in groups considered to be more advanced. The different types of pore systems, as well as the structural differentiations of insect olfactory sensillar types remain unexplained. Olfactory sensilla display a large degree of similarity among terrestrial arthropods, whereas crustacean sensilla diverge in structure. In holometabolous insects larval sensilla appear to be structurally quite advanced, and more complex than in the adult. During the ontogeny of both sensilla and scolopidia, these are differentiated in an epithelial layer, resulting in the formation of both sensory and enveloping cells. The developmental patterns of sensilla in the studied insect groups are similar. During the development of sensilla apoptotic process are usually active. Microsc. Res. Tech. 47:428–439, 1999.

Fine structure and distribution of antennal sensilla of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Abstract The fine structure and distribution of various types of antennal sensilla in three nymphal stages and in adults of both solitary-reared (solitary) and crowd-reared (gregarious) phases of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Four types of sensilla were identified: sensilla basiconica, s. trichodea, s. coeloconica and s. chaetica. S. basiconica contain up to 50 sensory neurons, each of which displays massive dendritic branching. The sensillar wall is penetrated by a large number of pores. In contrast, s. trichodea contain one to three sensory neurons that branch to give five or six dendrites in the sensillar lumen; the sensillum wall is penetrated by relatively few pores. The s. coeloconica are situated in spherical cuticular pits on the antennal surface. The s. coeloconica are of two types: one type contains one to three sensory neurons with double sensillar walls penetrated by slit-like pores, whereas the second type contains four sensory neurons with non-porous double sensillar walls. The s. chaetica have a flexible socket and a thick non-porous sensillum wall and contain four sensory neurons that send unbranched dendrites to a terminal pore. A fifth sensory neuron of the s. chaetica terminates in a tubular body at the base of the hair. S. basiconica and coeloconica are normally distributed over the entire antennal flagellum, with a concentration in the middle segments; s. trichodea have three areas of concentration on the 5th, 10th and 14th flagellar segments. Sensilla chaetica are most abundant on the terminal segment. Locusts raised in solitary conditions have more olfactory sensilla (s. basiconica and s. coeloconica) than crowd-reared locusts. The difference in sensillar numbers is more evident in adults than in nymphs. These results suggest that differences in the odour-mediated behaviour of nymphs and adults, and between the phases of S. gregaria, may be attributable to differences at the sensory input level.

The influence of intestinal ischemia and reperfusion on bidirectional intestinal barrier permeability, cellular membrane integrity, proteinase inhibitors, and cell death in rats.

Intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury (I/R) is probably involved in the pathogenesis of intestinal barrier dysfunction, associated with the concomitant translocation of enteric bacteria and toxins and the potential development of multiple organ failure. The intestinal endothelial and epithelial layers play a major role preventing the entry of toxic substances from the gut, but the influence of protease-antiprotease systemic balance on these barrier functions and the relationship between epithelial DNA synthesis, apoptosis, and endothelial and epithelial barrier macromolecule permeability are not fully investigated. Endothelial and epithelial barrier macromolecular permeability, epithelial DNA synthesis, the endothelial and epithelial plasma membrane system, apoptosis and oncosis, plasma levels of proteinase inhibitors, and proenzymes were measured in rats subjected to 20 and 40 min intestinal ischemia and 1, 3, 6, or 12 h reperfusion. Endothelial permeability increased after both 20 and 40 min intestinal ischemia. Epithelial permeability significantly increased during 1-6 h reperfusion after 20 min ischemia and during 1-12 h reperfusion after 40 min ischemia. Epithelial DNA synthesis increased in animals with 20 min ischemia followed by 12 h reperfusion. Plasma levels of prekallikrein, C1-esterase inhibitor, and alpha1-macroglobulin were significantly lower following both 20 and 40 min ischemia from 3 h reperfusion and on. Apoptotic epithelial cells significantly increased in animals subjected to 20 min ischemia followed by 12 h reperfusion. The severity of reperfusion injury in the intestinal endothelial and epithelial barrier seems to correlate with the period of ischemia and the pathway of cell damage and death, together with proteinase-antiproteinase imbalance.

Olfactory sensilla in crustaceans: Morphology, sexual dimorphism, and distribution patterns

Abstract The morphological variation of crustacean olfactory sensilla is considerable, and appears to comprise both aesthetascs and male-specific sensilla. Male-specific sensilla have hitherto been described in some non-decapod groups, whereas the sexual dimorphism of the olfactory system of decapods is usually less prominent morphologically. The decapods usually have a larger number of sensory cells per aesthetasc sensillum than non-decapods. The aesthetascs and male-specific sensilla are arranged in arrays of varying density. Differences in the arrangement of sensilla probably reflect diverse stimulus acquisition behaviour.

Fine-structural characteristics of the antennal sensilla of Agrotis segetum (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

SummaryThe turnip moth Agrotis segetum possesses seven different types of sensilla: four single-walled (SW), one double-walled (DW), one terminal-pore (TP), and one poreless sensilla (NP).The SW 1 and SW 2 sensilla have the same external appearance, being long and slender, but differ in the branching pattern of the sensory processes: unbranched and branched in SW 1 and SW 2, respectively. The SW 3 sensilla are shorter, sickle-shaped, and contain a large number of branches from the sensory processes. These three sensillar types are innervated by 2–3 sensory cells. The SW 4 sensilla are raisin-shaped and possess three profusely branched sensory processes. The DW sensilla are short and have apical slit-like pores. This sensillar type has 5–6 sensory processes. The TP sensilla possess five sensory processes, one of them terminates basally in a tubular body, the others in the apical part of the long cuticular bristle. The NP sensilla are stout and have apical conelike structures. Two of the sensory processes terminate in the apical part, the third proximally. The third sensory process has a lamellar pattern. The fine structure indicates the following functions: SW and DW sensilla: chemoreception; TP sensillum: chemoreception and mechanoreception; NP sensillum: thermoreception and hygroreception.

Insect-like olfactory adaptations in the terrestrial giant robber crab

The robber crab (Birgus latro), also known as the coconut crab, is the worlds largest land-living arthropod, with a weight reaching 4 kg and a length of over half a meter. Apart from the marine larval stage, this crab is fully terrestrial, and will actually drown if submerged in water. A transition from sea to land raises dramatically new demands on the sensory equipment of an animal. In olfaction, the stimulus changes from hydrophilic molecules in aqueous solution to mainly hydrophobic in the gaseous phase. The olfactory system of land crabs thus represents an excellent opportunity for investigating the effects of the transition from sea to land. Have land crabs come to the same solutions as other terrestrial animals, or is their olfactory sense characterized by unique innovations? Here, we show that the robber crab has evolved an olfactory sense with a high degree of resemblance to the insect system. The similarities extend to physiological, behavioral, and morphological characters. The insect nose of the robber crab is a striking example of convergent evolution and nicely illustrates how similar selection pressures result in similar adaptation.

Differentiation of mid-gut in adults and over-wintering copepodids of Calanus finmarchicus (Gunnerus) and C. helgolandicus Claus

Abstract The digestive enzyme content and the fine structure of the mid-gut in different developmental stages and generations of Calanus finmarchicus (Gunnerus) and C. helgolandicus Claus have been investigated. A reduced epithelium and low digestive enzyme activities were found in the over-wintering copepodids and males collected in the spring, whereas the corresponding females, and especially the summer adults, had higher enzyme activities. This is discussed in respect to the special physiological condition of the over-wintering stage. The enzyme content can be correlated with the structural characteristics of the glandular part of the mid-gut: high enzyme activities are accompanied by a more developed mid-gut epithelium, which is expressed in a larger cellular volume and in the possession of a large number of vacuolar cells (B-cells). In addition, more cell types are found in the glandular part of the mid-gut in the stages that display higher enzyme activities.

Classification of amphipod compound eyes- the fine structure of the ommatidial units (Crustacea, Amphipoda)

SummaryThe ultrastructure of the compound eyes of 13 amphipod species has been investigated. An amphipod type of compound eye can be characterized by the constellation and consistency of a number of morphological features, most of which are also found in other compound eyes. The amphipod eye falls into four sub-categories (types). The ampeliscid type has a tripartite aberrant lens eye; the lysianassid type has a reduced or no dioptric apparatus and a hypertrophied rhabdom; the hyperid type possesses a large number of ommatidial units with long crystalline cones and dark instead of reflecting accessory pigment; and finally, the gammarid type can be interpreted as a generalized amphipod type. The lysianassid type is adapted to low light intensities and demonstrates convergent development with the compound eyes of other deep-sea crustaceans. The ampeliscid type is more similar to the gammarid type. The type characterization of the amphipod compound eye might well serve as a basis and incentive for functional studies also revealing adaptational mechanisms.

Chemosensory Sensilla in Crustaceans

Crustaceans, like most other animals, have two types of chemosensory organs. In crustaceans these organs consist of sensilla that differ structurally as well as functionally. Unimodal olfactory sensilla are usually considered as more long-range and bimodal chemo- and mechanosensory sensilla as short-range or contact chemosensory sensilla. All chemosensory sensilla are characterized by the presence of ciliated bipolar sensory cells. The bimodal sensilla are unevenly distributed over the entire body, with dense arrays on the mouthparts and walking legs. These sensilla contain both chemosensory and mechanosensory cells. The chemosensory cells contain one transformed cilium (dendritic outer segment) each. Bimodal sensilla have a relatively densely arranged cuticle and also feature an apical pore. The most common unimodal olfactory sensilla in crustaceans are the aesthetascs, which vary in structure, number, and distribution. Another type of unimodal olfactory organ is the male-specific sensilla, found basally on the first antenna in some isopods, mysids, and amphipods. Excluding these groups, sexual dimorphism of the olfactory organs is not as pronounced in crustaceans as in some insects. The chemosensory cells of both aesthetascs and male-specific sensilla have two transformed cilia each, thus differing from gustatory chemosensory cells which have only one. Further, the cuticle of aesthetascs and male-specific sensilla is “spongy,” possibly functioning as a molecular sieve. Crustaceans molt in order to grow, and there are two known patterns of molting of the chemosensory sensilla: the first retains the chemosensory ability through maintained contact between the old and the new sensillum (the “mysid-type” of molt) and the second where there is no such contact and thus possibly no chemosensory ability (the “isopod-type”). Previous studies have mostly described the general morphology of the chemosensory sensilla, which is well-known in crustaceans. Future studies should focus on the function of these sensilla in an ecological and behavioral context.

The fine structure of the compound eyes of mysids (Crustacea: Mysidacea)

SummaryThe ultrastructure of the compound eyes of five species of mysids (Crustacea: Mysidacea), Praunus flexuosus, Siriella norvegica, Mysidopsis gibbosa, Neomysis integer and Erythrops serrata, is described. The ommatidia are constructed on a common plan, but there are considerable differences in detail. Common features include the arrangement of the cornea, crystalline cone and the basement membrane. The number of retinular cells differ: in Neomysis and Erythrops there are seven, whereas in the other species there are eight, the eighth cell forming a distal rhabdom, which consequently is lacking in the ommatidia of Neomysis and Erythrops. Another difference is the epirhabdom, which is lacking in Erythrops, but present in the other species. The epirhabdom is an extracellular structure, probably serving as a dioptric element. The pigment arrangement is similar in the first four species. The pigment shield consists of the distal pigment, distal reflecting pigment, proximal pigment (in the retinular cells) and the proximal reflecting pigment. The distal and proximal pigments are dark screening pigments. In addition to these, there are basal red pigment cells, which are mainly located below the basement membrane. In Erythrops there are three kinds of pigment cells: distal pigment cells, distal reflecting pigment cells and basal red pigment cells. Besides the basal red pigment cells, the distal pigment cells contain red pigment granules.