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Trebels B, Dippel S, Anders J, Ernst C, Goetz B, Keyser T, Rexer KH, Wimmer EA, Schachtner J. Anatomic and neurochemical analysis of the palpal olfactory system in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, HERBST. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1097462. [PMID: 36998268 PMCID: PMC10043995 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1097462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The paired antennal lobes were long considered the sole primary processing centers of the olfactory pathway in holometabolous insects receiving input from the olfactory sensory neurons of the antennae and mouthparts. In hemimetabolous insects, however, olfactory cues of the antennae and palps are processed separately. For the holometabolous red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, we could show that primary processing of the palpal and antennal olfactory input also occurs separately and at distinct neuronal centers. While the antennal olfactory sensory neurons project into the antennal lobes, those of the palps project into the paired glomerular lobes and the unpaired gnathal olfactory center. Here we provide an extended analysis of the palpal olfactory pathway by combining scanning electron micrographs with confocal imaging of immunohistochemical staining and reporter expression identifying chemosensory and odorant receptor-expressing neurons in the palpal sensilla. In addition, we extended the anatomical characterization of the gnathal olfactory center by 3D reconstructions and investigated the distribution of several neuromediators. The similarities in the neuromediator repertoire between antennal lobes, glomerular lobes, and gnathal olfactory center underline the role of the latter two as additional primary olfactory processing centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Trebels
- Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Joachim Schachtner Björn Trebels Ernst A. Wimmer
| | - Stefan Dippel
- Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Janet Anders
- Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Clara Ernst
- Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Brigitte Goetz
- Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tim Keyser
- Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Karl Heinz Rexer
- Biodiversity of Plants, Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ernst A. Wimmer
- Department of Developmental Biology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Joachim Schachtner Björn Trebels Ernst A. Wimmer
| | - Joachim Schachtner
- Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
- *Correspondence: Joachim Schachtner Björn Trebels Ernst A. Wimmer
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Montino A, Balakrishnan K, Dippel S, Trebels B, Neumann P, Wimmer EA. Mutually Exclusive Expression of Closely Related Odorant-Binding Proteins 9A and 9B in the Antenna of the Red Flour Beetle Tribolium castaneum. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1502. [PMID: 34680135 PMCID: PMC8533528 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Olfaction is crucial for insects to find food sources, mates, and oviposition sites. One of the initial steps in olfaction is facilitated by odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) that translocate hydrophobic odorants through the aqueous olfactory sensilla lymph to the odorant receptor complexes embedded in the dendritic membrane of olfactory sensory neurons. The Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) OBPs encoded by the gene pair TcasOBP9A and TcasOBP9B represent the closest homologs to the well-studied Drosophila melanogaster OBP Lush (DmelOBP76a), which mediates pheromone reception. By an electroantennographic analysis, we can show that these two OBPs are not pheromone-specific but rather enhance the detection of a broad spectrum of organic volatiles. Both OBPs are expressed in the antenna but in a mutually exclusive pattern, despite their homology and gene pair character by chromosomal location. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that this gene pair arose at the base of the Cucujiformia, which dates the gene duplication event to about 200 Mio years ago. Therefore, this gene pair is not the result of a recent gene duplication event and the high sequence conservation in spite of their expression in different sensilla is potentially the result of a common function as co-OBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Montino
- GZMB, Department of Developmental Biology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Goettingen, Germany; (A.M.); (S.D.)
- Goettingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University School of Science, University of Goettingen, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Karthi Balakrishnan
- Department of Forest Zoology and Forest Conservation, Buesgen-Institute, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Buesgenweg 3, 37077 Goettingen, Germany;
| | - Stefan Dippel
- GZMB, Department of Developmental Biology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Goettingen, Germany; (A.M.); (S.D.)
- Department of Biology—Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany;
| | - Björn Trebels
- Department of Biology—Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany;
| | - Piotr Neumann
- GZMB, Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Institute of Microbiology & Genetics, Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Goettingen, Germany;
| | - Ernst A. Wimmer
- GZMB, Department of Developmental Biology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Goettingen, Germany; (A.M.); (S.D.)
- Goettingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University School of Science, University of Goettingen, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
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Trebels B, Dippel S, Goetz B, Graebner M, Hofmann C, Hofmann F, Schmid FR, Uhl M, Vuong MP, Weber V, Schachtner J. Metamorphic development of the olfactory system in the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum, HERBST). BMC Biol 2021; 19:155. [PMID: 34330268 PMCID: PMC8323255 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01055-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insects depend on their olfactory sense as a vital system. Olfactory cues are processed by a rather complex system and translated into various types of behavior. In holometabolous insects like the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, the nervous system typically undergoes considerable remodeling during metamorphosis. This process includes the integration of new neurons, as well as remodeling and elimination of larval neurons. RESULTS We find that the sensory neurons of the larval antennae are reused in the adult antennae. Further, the larval antennal lobe gets transformed into its adult version. The beetle's larval antennal lobe is already glomerularly structured, but its glomeruli dissolve in the last larval stage. However, the axons of the olfactory sensory neurons remain within the antennal lobe volume. The glomeruli of the adult antennal lobe then form from mid-metamorphosis independently of the presence of a functional OR/Orco complex but mature dependent on the latter during a postmetamorphic phase. CONCLUSIONS We provide insights into the metamorphic development of the red flour beetle's olfactory system and compared it to data on Drosophila melanogaster, Manduca sexta, and Apis mellifera. The comparison revealed that some aspects, such as the formation of the antennal lobe's adult glomeruli at mid-metamorphosis, are common, while others like the development of sensory appendages or the role of Orco seemingly differ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Trebels
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Dippel
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Brigitte Goetz
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Maria Graebner
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Hofmann
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Florian Hofmann
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Freya-Rebecca Schmid
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Mara Uhl
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Minh-Phung Vuong
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Vanessa Weber
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Schachtner
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
- Clausthal University of Technology, Adolph-Roemer-Str. 2a, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
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Trebels B, Dippel S, Schaaf M, Balakrishnan K, Wimmer EA, Schachtner J. Adult neurogenesis in the mushroom bodies of red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum, HERBST) is influenced by the olfactory environment. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1090. [PMID: 31974446 PMCID: PMC6978414 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57639-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies showed adult persisting neurogenesis in insects, including the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, while it is absent in honeybees, carpenter ants, and vinegar flies. In our study, we focus on cell proliferation in the adult mushroom bodies of T. castaneum. We reliably labelled the progenies of the adult persisting mushroom body neuroblasts and determined the proliferation rate under several olfactory conditions within the first week after adult eclosion. We found at least two phases of Kenyon cell proliferation in the early adult beetle. Our results suggest that the generation of Kenyon cells during the first three days after adult eclosion is mainly genetically predetermined and a continuation of the developmental processes (nature), whereas from day four on proliferation seems to be mainly dependent on the odour environment (nurture). Considering that the mushroom bodies are linked to learning and memory, neurogenesis in the mushroom bodies is part of the remodelling of neuronal circuits leading to the adaption to the environment and optimization of behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Trebels
- Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Dippel
- Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Magdalina Schaaf
- Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Karthi Balakrishnan
- Department of Forest Zoology and Forest Conservation, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Büsgen-Institute, Büsgenweg 3, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Ernst A Wimmer
- Department of Developmental Biology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, GZMB, Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Joachim Schachtner
- Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany.
- Clausthal University of Technology, Adolph-Roemer-Str. 2a, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany.
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de Vries L, Pfeiffer K, Trebels B, Adden AK, Green K, Warrant E, Heinze S. Comparison of Navigation-Related Brain Regions in Migratory versus Non-Migratory Noctuid Moths. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:158. [PMID: 28928641 PMCID: PMC5591330 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain structure and function are tightly correlated across all animals. While these relations are ultimately manifestations of differently wired neurons, many changes in neural circuit architecture lead to larger-scale alterations visible already at the level of brain regions. Locating such differences has served as a beacon for identifying brain areas that are strongly associated with the ecological needs of a species-thus guiding the way towards more detailed investigations of how brains underlie species-specific behaviors. Particularly in relation to sensory requirements, volume-differences in neural tissue between closely related species reflect evolutionary investments that correspond to sensory abilities. Likewise, memory-demands imposed by lifestyle have revealed similar adaptations in regions associated with learning. Whether this is also the case for species that differ in their navigational strategy is currently unknown. While the brain regions associated with navigational control in insects have been identified (central complex (CX), lateral complex (LX) and anterior optic tubercles (AOTU)), it remains unknown in what way evolutionary investments have been made to accommodate particularly demanding navigational strategies. We have thus generated average-shape atlases of navigation-related brain regions of a migratory and a non-migratory noctuid moth and used volumetric analysis to identify differences. We further compared the results to identical data from Monarch butterflies. Whereas we found differences in the size of the nodular unit of the AOTU, the LX and the protocerebral bridge (PB) between the two moths, these did not unambiguously reflect migratory behavior across all three species. We conclude that navigational strategy, at least in the case of long-distance migration in lepidopteran insects, is not easily deductible from overall neuropil anatomy. This suggests that the adaptations needed to ensure successful migratory behavior are found in the detailed wiring characteristics of the neural circuits underlying navigation-differences that are only accessible through detailed physiological and ultrastructural investigations. The presented results aid this task in two ways. First, the identified differences in neuropil volumes serve as promising initial targets for electrophysiology. Second, the new standard atlases provide an anatomical reference frame for embedding all functional data obtained from the brains of the Bogong and the Turnip moth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liv de Vries
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund UniversityLund, Sweden
| | - Keram Pfeiffer
- Department of Biology, Marburg UniversityMarburg, Germany
| | - Björn Trebels
- Department of Biology, Marburg UniversityMarburg, Germany
| | - Andrea K Adden
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund UniversityLund, Sweden
| | - Ken Green
- New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife ServiceJindabyne, NSW, Australia
| | - Eric Warrant
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund UniversityLund, Sweden
| | - Stanley Heinze
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund UniversityLund, Sweden
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