A map of brain neuropils and fiber systems in the ant Cardiocondyla obscurior
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Bressan, Joris M. A.
Department of Biology, Institute of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
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Benz, Martin
Department of Biology, Institute of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
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Oettler, Jan
Biologie I, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Heinze, Jürgen
Biologie I, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Hartenstein, Volker
Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
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Sprecher, Simon G.
Department of Biology, Institute of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
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Published in:
- Frontiers in Neuroanatomy. - 2015, vol. 8, p. 166
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.
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Faculty
- Faculté des sciences et de médecine
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Department
- Département de Biologie
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Language
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Classification
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Biological sciences
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License
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License undefined
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Identifiers
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Persistent URL
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https://folia.unifr.ch/unifr/documents/304314
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