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A map of brain neuropils and fiber systems in the ant Cardiocondyla obscurior

  • Bressan, Joris M. A. Department of Biology, Institute of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Benz, Martin Department of Biology, Institute of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Oettler, Jan Biologie I, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
  • Heinze, Jürgen Biologie I, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
  • Hartenstein, Volker Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
  • Sprecher, Simon G. Department of Biology, Institute of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
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    2015
Published in:
  • Frontiers in Neuroanatomy. - 2015, vol. 8, p. 166
neuropile compartements
Cardiocondyla obscurior
neuroanatomy
fiber tracts
hymenoptera
English A wide spectrum of occupied ecological niches and spectacular morphological adaptations make social insects a prime object for comparative neuroanatomical studies. Eusocial insects have evolved complex societies based on caste polyphenism. A diverse behavioral repertoire of morphologically distinct castes of the same species requires a high degree of plasticity in the central nervous system. We have analyzed the central brain neuropils and fiber tract systems of the worker of the ant Cardiocondyla obscurior, a model for the study of social traits. Our analysis is based on whole mount preparations of adult brains labeled with an antibody against Drosophila-Synapsin, which cross-reacts strongly with synapses in Cardiocondyla. Neuropil compartments stand out as domains with a certain texture and intensity of the anti-Synapsin signal. By contrast, fiber tracts, which are composed of bundles of axons accompanied by glia and are devoid of synapses, appear as channels or sheaths with low anti-Synapsin signal. We have generated a digital 3D atlas of the Cardiocondyla brain neuropil. The atlas provides a reference for future studies of brain polymorphisms in distinct castes, brain development or localization of neurotransmitter systems.
Faculty
Faculté des sciences et de médecine
Department
Département de Biologie
Language
  • English
Classification
Biological sciences
License
License undefined
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Persistent URL
https://folia.unifr.ch/unifr/documents/304314
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