Transformation of sensory information in the lateral accessory lobe

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Transformation of sensory information in the lateral accessory lobe Shigehiro Namiki1* and Ryohei Kanzaki1 1 University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Japan Here we studied the physiology and morphology of the neurons in the lateral accessory lobe (LAL) in silkmoth Bombyx mori. B. mori shows mating behavior in response to the sex pheromone emitted by female. The LAL is important for the controlling behavior [1], but intrinsic neural circuit is not fully understood. We first quantitatively analyzed the distribution of axons and dendrites within the LAL based on potential connectivity [2,3]. The LAL was connected with the optic lobe (OL), central complex (CC), the superior median protocerebrum (SMPC), anterior optic tubercle, and posterior optic foci (POF). Axons from SMPC, which relay pheromone information, innervate the upper division of the LAL (uLAL). Also, axons from the OL also innervate the different areas within uLAL, suggesting the area is the site of sensory convergence. The response amplitude to the left and right antennae were similar in the LAL input neurons as well as uLAL neurons, whereas the amplitude was different in the lower division of the LAL (lLAL) and descending interneurons (DNs) from the LAL. Also, the response duration increased in lLAL and DNs. Moths show turning behavior toward the side of unilateral input [4], suggesting the representation for the directional information might be amplified in the LAL. We also investigated the effect of visual information and found that uLAL neurons were responsive to the visual input. The response properties differed among the anterior and posterior portions, possibly due to the differential inputs from the OL and CC. OL neurons from medulla mainly projected to the POF and posterior portion of uLAL whereas some neurons from lobula complex directly projected to the anterior portion of uLAL. Further, we found the feedback pathway from the uLAL and/or POF to the OL, which might contribute the pheromone-triggered suppression in visual response of OL neurons. In the LAL, information of the laterality of pheromone inputs is transformed and the olfactory and visual information interact with each other. Acknowledgements This research was supported by Research and Development of the Next-Generation Integrated Simulation of Living Matter, a part of the Development and Use of the Next-Generation Supercomputer Project from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).