The electroretinogram of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae

Functionalized carbon nanotube microfibers for chronic neural implants

BACKGROUND

Much progress has been made at the interface between neural tissue and electrodes for neurophysiology. However, there continues to be a need for novel materials that integrate well with the nervous system and facilitate neural recordings with longer-term sustainability and stability. Such materials have the potential to improve clinical approaches and provide important tools for basic neuroscience research.

NEW METHOD

In this paper, we explore the use of dry-spun untreated or functionalized carbon nanotube fibers as implantable electrodes for neural recordings from insects over extended time periods.

RESULTS

Measurements of fly eyes responding to light flashes illustrate the suitability of these materials for recording both the low- and high-frequency components of neural signals. Repeated recordings show good sustainability, especially with functionalized carbon nanotube fibers. In particular, recordings from the optic lobes of Madagascar hissing cockroaches last for at least 8 weeks.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S)

Electrophysiological research continues to rely heavily on metal electrodes that are good for short-lived preparations but less suitable for longer-term recordings, as scar tissue formation and cytotoxicity tend to cause a gradual reduction in signals.

CONCLUSIONS

Functionalized carbon nanotubes are a promising novel material that can be used to obtain long-term or repeated stable recordings, which are necessary for longitudinal studies, or to maintain other neural tissue interfaces such as those in insect-machine hybrid robots. The introduced insect preparation can also be used for the relatively rapid and cost-efficient testing of novel electrode materials.

An inside look at the sensory biology of triatomines

Although kissing bugs (Triatominae: Reduviidae) are perhaps best known as vectors of Chagas disease, they are important experimental models in studies of insect sensory physiology, pioneered by the seminal studies of Wigglesworth and Gillet more than eighty years ago. Since then, many investigations have revealed that the thermal, hygric, visual and olfactory senses play critical roles in the orientation of these blood-sucking insects towards hosts. Here we review the current knowledge about the role of these sensory systems, focussing on relevant stimuli, sensory structures, receptor physiology and the molecular players involved in the complex and cryptic behavioural repertoire of these nocturnal insects. Odours are particularly relevant, as they are involved in host search and are used for sexual, aggregation and alarm communication. Tastants are critical for a proper recognition of hosts, food and conspecifics. Heat and relative humidity mediate orientation towards hosts and are also important for the selection of resting places. Vision, which mediates negative phototaxis and flight dispersion, is also critical for modulating shelter use and mediating escape responses. The molecular bases underlying the detection of sensory stimuli started to be uncovered by means of functional genetics due to both the recent publication of the genome sequence of Rhodnius prolixus and the availability of modern genome editing techniques.

Peptidergic circadian clock circuits in the Madeira cockroach

Circadian clocks control physiology and behavior of organisms in synchrony with external light dark cycles in changing photoperiods. The Madeira cockroach Rhyparobia maderae was the first model organism in which an endogenous circadian clock in the brain was identified. About 240 neurons constitute the cockroach circadian pacemaker network in the accessory medulla. The expression of high concentrations of neuropeptides, among them the most prominent circadian coupling factor pigment-dispersing factor, as well as their ability to generate endogenous ultradian and circadian rhythms in electrical activity and clock gene expression distinguish these pacemaker neurons. We assume that entrainment to light-dark cycles and the control of 24h rest-activity rhythms is achieved via peptidergic circuits forming autoreceptive labeled lines.

Macroscopic characteristics of the praying mantis electroretinogram

We described the macroscopic characteristics of the praying mantis ERG in three species, Tenodera aridifolia sinensis, Sphodromantis lineola, and Popa spurca. In all cases, when elicited by square wave light pulses longer than 400 ms, light adapted (LA) ERGs consisted of four component waveforms: a cornea negative transient and sustained ON, a cornea negative transient OFF, and a cornea positive sustained OFF. The former two ON, and the latter OFF components were attributed to photoreceptor depolarization and repolarization, respectively. Metabolic stress via CO2 induced anoxia selectively eliminated the transient OFF (independent of its effect on the other components) suggesting the transient OFF represents activity of the lamina interneurons on which the photoreceptors synapse. Dark adapted (DA) ERGs differed from LA ERGs in that the sustained ON and OFF amplitudes were larger, and the transient ON and OFF components were absent. Increased stimulus durations increased the amplitudes and derivatives of, and decreased the latencies to the maximum amplitudes of the OFF components. Increasing stimulus intensity increased the amplitude of the sustained ON and OFF components, but not the transient OFF. These results suggest that the mantis' visual system displays increased contrast coding efficiency with increased light adaptation, and that there are differences in gain between photoreceptor and lamina interneuron responses. Finally, responses to luminance decrements as brief a 1 ms were evident in LA recordings, and were resolved at frequencies up to 60 Hz.

Differential control of light-dark adaptation in the ocelli and compound eyes of Triatoma infestans

The adaptation to light of compound eyes in insects has been extensively documented and their adaptive role is well understood. Much less attention has been paid, however, to the control of ocelli sensitivity, a study which could help us to understand the functional role of these simple eyes. We analyzed the dynamic changes in the distribution of screening pigments which occur in the ocelli of the haematophagous bug, Triatoma infestans, when the insects are subjected either to light/dark cycles (LD), to constant darkness (DD) or constant light (LL). We then compared these changes with those occurring in the compound eyes of the same individuals and found that, while compound eyes are subject to the control of an endogenous circadian clock, the adaptation of the ocelli is entirely dependent on environmental illumination. In addition, we have observed that environmental temperature is not involved in the control of screening pigments in either ocelli or compound eyes as a direct stimulus, nor as a Zeitgeber. The existence of a differential control in the components of the dual visual system represents an adaptive advantage in the adjustment of visual sensitivity in insects exposed to quick changes in lighting conditions in their natural habitat. We discuss the implications of our findings with regards to the biology of triatomines and with respect to the general understanding the functional role of insect ocelli.

Evidence for a role of GABA and Mas-allatotropin in photic entrainment of the circadian clock of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae

Accumulating evidence suggests that the accessory medulla is the location of the circadian pacemaker in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogasterand the cockroach Leucophaea maderae. γ-Aminobutyric acid(GABA) and Mas-allatotropin are two putative neurotransmitters, in the accessory medulla in the cockroach Leucophaea maderae. Neurons immunoreactive to the neuropeptide Mas-allatotropin are local neurons with arborizations in the noduli of the accessory medulla, while GABA-immunoreactive neurons connect the noduli of the accessory medulla to the medulla and to the lamina via processes in the distal tract. Injections of GABA and Mas-allatotropin into the vicinity of the accessory medulla resulted in stable phase-dependent resetting of the circadian locomotor activity of the cockroach. The resulting phase response curves closely matched light-dependent phase response curves, suggesting that both substances play a role in circuits relaying photic information from circadian photoreceptors to the central pacemaker.

Light-induced and circadian changes in the compound eye of the haematophagous bug Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

We analysed dynamic changes in the ommatidial structure of the compound eyes of Triatoma infestans. This nocturnal insect possesses open-rhabdom eyes, in which a ring of six rhabdomeres from retinula cells 1–6 (R1–6) surrounds a central pair of rhabdomeres from retinula cells 7 and 8 (R7–8). Screening pigments are located in all the photoreceptors and in the primary (PPC) and secondary (SPC) pigment cells. During the day, pigments within R1–6 and the PPCs form a small ‘pupil’ above the rhabdom and pigments within R7–8 are clustered around the central rhabdomere, allowing light to reach only the central rhabdomere. At night, the ‘pupil’ widens, and pigments inside R7–8 concentrate in the proximal region of the cells, allowing light to reach the peripheral rhabdomeres. In addition, the distance between the cornea and the rhabdom decreases. These rhythmic changes adapt the sensitivity of the eye by controlling the amount of light reaching and travelling within the rhabdom. Furthermore, the rhythm persists under conditions of constant darkness (DD), i.e. it is controlled by an endogenous oscillator. Remarkably, there are differences in pigment movements between the retinula cells of a single ommatidium. The migration of pigments in R1–6 is regulated by a circadian input, while that in R7–8 is regulated by both direct light and circadian inputs. The rhythm vanishes under constant-light conditions (LL). In this species, the circadian rhythm of photonegative behaviour persists in both DD and LL conditions, suggesting that these two rhythms, in retinal morphology and visual behaviour, may be generated by different circadian oscillators.

Inconsistency in the expression of locomotor and ERG circadian rhythms in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.)

ERG recordings from German cockroaches showed that the amplitude of light-evoked responses have a circadian rhythmicity in adult males that coincided with the locomotor circadian rhythm. The peak of the response occurred during the subjective night, and the circadian period was less than 24 h under DD condition. In contrast, although the locomotor circadian rhythm was masked by the development of ovaries and pregnancy in females, their visual responses displayed circadian rhythmicity. This inconsistency in expression of locomotor and visual sensitivity circadian rhythms in females implied separate pacemakers for these two overt rhythms. After severing the optic nerves, changes in ERG amplitude of the operated cockroaches still displayed a circadian rhythm under DD condition, demonstrating that the visual sensitive pacemaker was located in the eye and independent from the locomotor pacemaker.

Phase response curves of a molecular model oscillator: implications for mutual coupling of paired oscillators

Increasing evidence indicates that the accessory medulla is the circadian pacemaker controlling locomotor activity rhythms in insects. A prominent group of neurons of this neuropil shows immunoreactivity to the peptide pigment-dispersing hormone (PDH). In Drosophila melanogaster, the PDH-immunoreactive (PDH-ir) lateral neurons, which also express the clock genes period and timeless, are assumed to be circadian pacemaker cells themselves. In other insects, such as Leucophaea maderae, a subset of apparently homologue PDH-ir cells is a candidate for the circadian coupling pathway of the bilaterally symmetric clocks. Although knowledge about molecular mechanisms of the circadian clockwork is increasing rapidly, very little is known about mechanisms of circadian coupling. The authors used a computer model, based on the molecular feedback loop of the clock genes in D. melanogaster, to test the hypothesis that release of PDH is involved in the coupling between bilaterally paired oscillators. They can show that a combination of all-delay- and all-advance-type interactions between two model oscillators matches best the experimental findings on mutual pacemaker coupling in L. maderae. The model predicts that PDH affects the phosphorylation rate of clock genes and that in addition to PDH, another neuroactive substance is involved in the coupling pathway, via an all-advance type of interaction. The model suggests that PDH and light pulses, represented by two distinct classes of phase response curves, have different targets in the oscillatory feedback loop and are, therefore, likely to act in separate input pathways to the clock.

The effect of time of day and repeat reliability on the fast flicker multifocal ERG

PURPOSE

To investigate the possible influence of different times of the day on multifocal ERG recordings in normals.

METHODS

10 healthy volunteers underwent multifocal ERG recordings (VERIS 3.1.1.) 3 times a day, at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm using a fast flicker stimulus of 103 hexagons. Additional night-time recordings were performed in 2 subjects. The first-order and dominant part of the second order response component were analyzed.

RESULTS

Neither peak latencies nor peak-to-peak amplitudes showed significant changes during the day (p >0.05). Comparison between night and day time recordings did also not reveal an influence of a circadian rhythm on the MF-ERG.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant influence of the time of the day suggestive of a circadian rhythm could be observed. Light adaptation due to preadaptation and the flicker sequence used could be a possible cause for these results.

Organization of the circadian system in insects

The circadian systems of different insect groups are summarized and compared. Emphasis is placed on the anatomical identification and characterization of circadian pacemakers, as well as on their entrainment, coupling, and output pathways. Cockroaches, crickets, beetles, and flies possess bilaterally organized pacemakers in the optic lobes that appear to be located in the accessory medulla, a small neuropil between the medulla and the lobula. Neurons that are immunoreactive for the peptide pigment-dispersing hormone (PDH) arborize in the accessory medulla and appear to be important components of the optic lobe pacemakers. The neuronal architecture of the accessory medulla with associated PDH-immunoreactive neurons is best characterized in cockroaches, while the molecular machinery of rhythm generation is best understood in fruit flies. One essential component of the circadian clock is the period protein (PER), which colocalizes with PDH in about half of the fruit fly's presumptive pacemaker neurons. PER is also found in the presumptive pacemaker neurons of beetles and moths, but appears to have different functions in these insects. In moths, the pacemakers are situated in the central brain and are closely associated with neuroendocrine functions. In the other insects, neurons associated with neuroendocrine functions also appear to be closely coupled to the optic lobe pacemakers. Some crickets and flies seem to possess central brain pacemakers in addition to their optic lobe pacemakers. With respect to neuronal organization, the circadian systems of insects show striking similarities to the vertebrate circadian system.

Pigment-dispersing hormone shifts the phase of the circadian pacemaker of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae

An antiserum against the crustacean neuropeptide pigment-dispersing hormone stains a small set of neurons in the optic lobes of several hemimetabolous and holometabolous insects. These cells, the primary branches of which in the optic lobe lie in the accessory medulla, fulfill several criteria predicted for neurons of the circadian clock. For example, in fruit flies they express timeless and period, which are two molecular components of the circadian pacemaker. To test whether pigment-dispersing hormone fulfills a circadian function in the cockroach Leucophaea maderae, 150 fmol of synthetic peptide was injected into the vicinity of the accessory medulla. This resulted in a stable phase-dependent resetting of the phase of the circadian locomotor activity rhythm, which depended on the amount of pigment-dispersing hormone injected. The resulting phase-response curve differs from that obtained with light pulses, suggesting that pigment-dispersing hormone-immunoreactive neurons are not part of the visual input pathway to the pacemaker but an integral part of it and/or part of a nonphotic input into the clock. A possible role of these neurons in coupling the bilaterally paired circadian pacemakers is discussed.

Immunocytochemical characterization of the accessory medulla in the cockroach Leucophaea maderae

Several lines of evidence suggest that pigment-dispersing hormone-immunoreactive neurons with ramifications in the accessory medulla are involved in the circadian system of insects. The present study provides a detailed analysis of the anatomical and neurochemical organization of the accessory medulla in the brain of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae. We show that the accessory medulla is compartmentalized into central dense nodular neuropil surrounded by a shell of coarse fibers. It is innervated by neurons immunoreactive to antisera against serotonin and the neuropeptides allatostatin 7, allatotropin, corazonin, gastrin/cholecystokinin, FMRFamide, leucokinin I, and pigment-dispersing hormone. Some of the immunostained neurons appear to be local neurons of the accessory medulla, whereas others connect this neuropil to various brain areas, including the lamina, the contralateral optic lobe, the posterior optic tubercles, and the superior protocerebrum. Double-label experiments show the colocalization of immunoreactivity against pigment-dispersing hormone with compounds related to FMRFamide, serotonin, and leucokinin I. The neuronal and neurochemical organization of the accessory medulla is consistent with the current hypothesis for a role of this brain area as a circadian pacemaking center in the insect brain.

Homogentisic acid is the primary precursor of melanin synthesis in Vibrio cholerae, a Hyphomonas strain, and Shewanella colwelliana

The enzyme p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate hydroxylase (HPPH) is involved in pigmentation (pyomelanin) via homogentisic acid (HGA). Pyomelanin formation is correlated with HGA production and expression of HPPH in three disparate marine species: Vibrio cholerae, a Hyphomonas strain, and Shewanella colwelliana. Induction of pigmentation in V. cholerae 569B by nutrient limitation also correlated with production of HGA.

Homogentisic acid is the product of MelA, which mediates melanogenesis in the marine bacterium Shewanella colwelliana D

Shewanella colwelliana D is a marine procaryote which produces a diffusible brown pigment that correlates with melA gene expression. Previously, melA had been cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli; however, the reaction product of MelA had not been identified. This report identifies that product as homogentisic acid, provides evidence that the pigment is homogentisic acid-melanin (pyomelanin), and suggests that MelA is p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate hydroxylase. This is the first report of pyomelanin in an obligate marine bacterium.

Circadian changes in cockroach ommatidial structure

1. Morphological correlates of circadian changes in eye sensitivity to light measured electrophysiologically were sought in the cockroach, Leucophaea maderae. Cross sections of ommatidia removed at subjective midday and subjective midnight on 3 successive days from roaches held under constant darkness (DD) at 25 +/- 2 degrees C were examined using a transmission electron microscope for morphological differences related to sampling time. 2. The temporal difference in submicrovillar cisternae (SMC) area appeared to exhibit a circadian rhythm, however, the amplitude of this temporal difference measured under DD was less than that observed under LD 12:12 conditions. SMC areas characteristic at nighttime were achieved at subjective midnights but the area diminished only partially toward the daytime state on subjective middays. 3. Rhabdom area remained constant and the daily rhythm of screening pigment granules (SPG) arrangement about the rhabdom was not observed under conditions of constant darkness. 4. Results of this study indicate that a pacemaker(s) actively influences the change in the SMC toward the nighttime state, whereas, the change toward the daytime state results from a passive mechanism that possibly could be accelerated by light.