The distribution of dopamine-like immunoreactivity in the thoracic and abdominal ganglia of the locust (Schistocerca gregaria)

Abstract

The distribution of dopamine-like immunoreactivity in somata and neurites within the thoracic and abdominal nervous system of the locust Schistocerca gregaria was mapped using two polyclonal antibodies. The prothoracic ganglion contains three bilateral pairs of immunoreactive somata. Two of these lie close to the root of the anterior connective while the third lies between the somata of anterior and common inhibitory motor neurones. The primary neurites of the third pair have a distinctive branching pattern that can be followed through the neuropile and gives rise to a large descending axon. The mesothoracic ganglion has a single pair of antero-lateral immunoreactive somata but the metathoracic and fourth abdominal ganglia have none. The fifth, sixth, and seventh abdominal ganglia each have one pair of somata which are situated at the root of the sternal nerve while the terminal ganglion has a similar pair in the eighth neuromere only. Seven to ten immunoreactive axons enter each ganglion from each of the connectives. Some of these can be traced along the longitudinal tracts that traverse the neuropile. In each ganglion there is one axon in the median dorsal tract and two in ventral median tract. In the meso- and metathoracic ganglia an additional large axon is seen in lateral dorsal tract and dorsal intermediate tract. The axons in median dorsal, and dorsal intermediate tracts send out long ventro-lateral and ventro-medial branches which extend throughout much of the neuropile. Those in median ventral tract send markedly varicose branches to the ventral and dorsal edges of the medial neuropile.