Development and distribution of serotonin in the central nervous system of Manduca sexta during embryogenesis I. The brain and frontal ganglion

Abstract

Development of the serotonergic system in the brain and frontal ganglion of the Manduca embryo between 35 and 100% of development was studied immunocytochemically with an antiserum to serotonin (5-HT). Serotonin immunoreactivity was initially detectable at 40–45% development in short fibers in the head region, prior to differentiation of the brain. Immunoreactive cell bodies were first seen in the brain at 60% development, located in the protocerebrum and tritocerebrum. Thick fiber tracts crossing the midline (commissures) could also be observed at this early stage. As development of the embryo progressed, eight immunoreactive cell groups, containing a total of about 38–40 cells and four commissures with terminal arborizations appeared successively in the brain. From 75 to 100% development, no obvious changes occurred in the number or distribution of cells and the brain exhibited the same pattern of 5-HT immunoreactive cells, fiber tracts and arborizations as in last instar larvae of Manduca. However, an increase in the size of the cells in both the brain and frontal ganglion was noted between 75 and 80% development, followed by a decrease by 100% development. The frontal ganglion was found to contain three 5-HT immunoreactive cells, which appeared to send bilateral projections into the frontal connectives and the recurrent nerve. During embryonic development, the dendritic arborizations of these frontal ganglion cells increased, while the amount of 5-HT immunoreactivity in the cell bodies decreased. Thus, the serotonergic system first appears in the Manduca embryo at an early stage of development, similar to the situation in other insects as well as vertebrates. By the end of the embryonic period, the same number of serotonergic neurons are present in the brain as in larval and adult Manduca, suggesting that once formed, these cells persist through postembryonic development and metamorphosis.