Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Embryonic development of an insect sensory system, the abdominal cerci ofAcheta domesticus

  • Published:
Wilhelm Roux's archives of developmental biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

  1. 1.

    The embryonic development of the abdominal cerci of the house cricketAcheta domesticus is described from scanning and transmission electron microscope data.

  2. 2.

    A staged description of externally visible events in embryogenesis is tabulated as a context for describing the chronology of embryonic development of the abdominal cerci.

  3. 3.

    Three phases of cercal development are distinguished: differentiation of the cercal anlagen and secretion of the first embryonic cuticle; elongation of the cercus culminating in the secretion of the second embryonic cuticle after completion of a continuous epidermis at the time of dorsal closure; and differentiation of functional sensilla on the third embryonic (first instar) cuticle.

  4. 4.

    The first axon profiles appear in the cercus immediately before elongation of the cercus. These axons have dendrites with ciliary configuration in the lumen of the cercus. Glial cells associated with the pioneer axons may precede the axons in occupying dorsal and ventral luminal midlines of the cerci.

  5. 5.

    Trichoid sensilla appear in the integumet following apolysis of the second embryonic cuticle.

  6. 6.

    Axons are added to the dorsal and ventral pioneer fibre bundles shortly before sensilla become apparent.

  7. 7.

    The majority of sensory axons traverse the cercus during the final 15% of embryonic development.

  8. 8.

    The sensilla of the first instar cercus do not achieve their final orientation until the cercal cuticle is expanded following eclosion from the second embryonic cuticle that encloses the hatchling until it reaches a free surface.

  9. 9.

    The role of the pioneer fibres in establishing a pathway for the functional sensillar neurons is discussed in relation to other studies of sensillar development in insects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, D.T.: The development of hemimetabolous insects. In: Developmental Systems: InsectsI. (S.J. Counce and C.H. Waddington, eds.), pp. 95–163 London-New York: Academic Press 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashhurst, D.E.: The connective tissue sheath of the locust nervous system: its development in the embryo. Quart. J. Microsc. Sci.106, 61–73 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbier, R.: Differenication de structures et mise en place des canoux au cours de l'organogenes des glandes colleteriques deGalleria mellonella L. (lepidoptere, pyralide). J. Microsc.24, 315–326 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bate, C.M.: Pioneer neurones in an insect embryo. Nature260, 54–56 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Belling, J.: The iron-acetocarmine method of fixing and retaining chromosomes. Biol. Bull., Woods Hole50, 160–162 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  • Berry, S.J., Johnosn, E.: Formation of temporary flagellar structures during insect organogenesis. J. Cell Biol.65, 489–492 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Caveney, S., Podgorski, C.: Intercellular communication in a positional field. Ultrastructural correlates and tracer analysis of communication between insect epidermal cells. Cell Tiss. Res.7, 559–574 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Counce, S.J.: The causal analysis of insect embryogenesis. In: Developmental Systems: Insects. (S.J. Counce and C.M. Waddington, eds.), Vol. 2 pp. 1–156 London-New York: Academic Press 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, J.S.: Pathfinding by arthropod sensory nerves. In: Identified Neurons and Behavior of Arthropods (G. Hoyle ed.), pp. 483–493 New York-London: Plenum Press 1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, J.S., Milner, M., Chen, S.-W.: Intergument and sensory nerve differentiation ofDrosophila leg and wing imaginal discs in vitro. Wilhelm Roux's Archives185, 59–77 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, J.S., Palka, J.: The cerci and abdominal giant fibres of the house cricketAcheta domesticus. I. Anatomy and physiology of normal adults. Proc. Roy. Soc. London, B.,185, 83–103 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, J.S., Palka, J.: Neural generation and regeneration in insects. In: Simpler Networks and Behavior (J. C. Fentress, ed.), pp. 167–185. Massachusetts: Sinauer Sunderland 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Fristrom, D.: The mechanism of evagination of imaginal discs ofDrosophila melanogaster III. Evidence for cell rearrangement. Dev. Biol.54, 163–171 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, R.G.: The origin and development of the nervous system studied by the methods of experimental embryology. The Croonian Lecture Proc. Roy. Soc. London, B.118, 155–196 (1935)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lauga, J.: Table chronologique du developpement embryonnaire deAcheta domesticus L. (orthoptere, gryllidae). Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool., Paris11, 483–504 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Louvet, J.-P.: Observation en microscopie electronique des cuticles edifees par l'embryon, et discussion du concept de “mue embryonnaire” dans le cas du phasmeCarausius morosus Br. (Insecta, Phasmida). Z. Morph. Tiere 159–170 (1974)

  • Matsumoto, S.G., Murphey, R.K.: The cercus to giant-interneuron system of crickets. IV. Patterns of connectivity between receptors and the Medial Giant Interneuron. J. Comp. Physiol.119, 319–330 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mclean, M., Edwards, J.S.: Target discrimination in regenerating insect sensory nerve. J. Embryol. Exp. Morphol.36, 19–39 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphey, R.K., Mendenhall, B., Palka, J., Edwards, J.S.: Deafferentation slows the growth of specific dendrites on identified giant interneurons. J. Comp. Neurol.159, 407–418 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphey, R.K., Palka, J., Hustert, R.: The cercus-to-giant interneuron system of crickets. II. Response characteristics of two giant inerneurons. J. Comp. Physiol.119, 285–300 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Palka, J.: Theories of pattern formation in insect neural development. In: Advances in Insect Physiology (J. Treherne, V.B. Wigglesworth, and M. Berridge eds.) (in press) London, New York: Academic Press (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Palka, J., Edwards, J.S.: The cerci and abdominal giant fibres of the house cricketAcheta domesticus. II. Regeneration and effects of chronic deprivation. Proc. Roy. Soc. London, B.185, 105–121 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Palka, J., Schubiger, M.: Central connections of receptors on rotated and exchanged cerci of crickets. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA72, 966–969 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Panov, A.A.: Correlation in the ontogenetic development of the central nervous system in the house cricketGryllus domesticus L. and the mole cricketGryllotalpa gryllotalpa L. (Orthoptera, Grylloidea). (English translation). Ent. Rev.45, 179–185 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Poodry, C.A., Schneiderman, N.A.: The ultrastructure of the developing leg ofDrosophila melanogaster. Wilhelm Roux'Archiv166, 1–44 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rakic, P.: Neuron-glia relationships during granule cell migration in developing cerebral cortex. A golgi and electron micrographic study inMacacus rhesus. J. Comp. Neurol.141, 283–312 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rakic, P.: Intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing the shape of neurons and their assembly into neuronal circuits. In Frontiers in Neurology and Neuroscience Research (P. Seeman and G.M. Brown, eds.), Neuroscience Inst., Univ. Toronto 1974

  • Reynolds, E.S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol.17, 208–212 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, K.C., Jarrett, L., Finke, E.H.: Embedding in epoxy, resins for ultrathin sectioning in electron microscopy. Stain Technol.35, 313–323 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiten, T.M. van, Sprey, T.E.: The ultrastructure of the developing leg disc ofCalliphora erythrocephala. Z. Zellforsch. Microsc. Anat.,143, 373–400 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sander, K.: Specification of the basic body pattern in insect embryogenesis. In: Advances in Insect Physiology 12 (J.E. Treherne, M.J. Berridge, and V.B. Wigglesworth eds.), pp. 125–238 London, New York: Academic Press 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanes, J.R., Hildebrand, J.: Nerves in the antennae of pupalManduca sexta Johanssen (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae). Wilhelm Roux' Archiv178, 71–78 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanes, J.R., Hildebrand, J.: Origin and morphogenesis of sensory neurons in an insect antenna. Dev. Biol.51, 300–319 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sbrenna Micciarelli, A., Sbrenna, G.: The embryonic apolyses ofSchistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera). J. Insect Physiol18, 1027–1037 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Selman, K., Kafatos: Differentiation in the cocoonase producing silkmoth galia: ultrastructural studies. Dev. Biol.46,132–150 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Streng, L., Quennedey: Role of a temporary ciliary structure in the morphogenesis of insect glands: and electron microscope study of the tergal glands of maleBlatella germanica L. J. Ultrastruct. Res.56, 78–95 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wigglesworth, V.B.: Structural changes in the epidermal cells of Rhodnius during tracheole capture. J. Cell. Sci.26, 161–174 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Washington, 98195, Seattle, Washington, USA

    John Stuart Edwards & Su-Wan Chen

Authors
  1. John Stuart Edwards
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Su-Wan Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Edwards, J.S., Chen, SW. Embryonic development of an insect sensory system, the abdominal cerci ofAcheta domesticus . Wilhelm Roux' Archiv 186, 151–178 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00848176

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00848176

Key words

Search

Navigation