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Ontogeny and development of the tritocerebral commissure giant (TCG): an identified neuron in the brain of the grasshopper Schistocerca gregaria
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 15:16 authored by George Stephen Boyan, Leslie Williams, Tobias Müller, Jonathan BaconThe tritocerebral commissure giant (TCG) of the grasshopper Schistocerca gregaria is one of the best anatomically and physiologically described arthropod brain neurons. A member of the so-called Ventral Giant cluster of cells, it integrates sensory information from visual, antennal and hair receptors, and synapses with thoracic motor neurons in order to initiate and regulate flight behavior. Its ontogeny, however, remains unclear. In this study, we use bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and cyclin labeling to reveal proliferative neuroblasts in the region of the embryonic brain where the ventral giant cluster is located. Engrailed labeling confirms the deutocerebral identity of this cluster. Comparison of soma locations and initial neurite projections into tracts of the striate deutocerebrum help identify the cells of the ventral cluster in both the embryonic and adult brain. Reconstructions of embryonic cell lineages suggest deutocerebral NB1 as being the putative neuroblast of origin. Intracellular dye injection coupled with immunolabeling against neuron-specific horseradish peroxidase is used to identify the VG1 (TCG) and VG3 neurons from the ventral cluster in embryonic brain slices. Dye injection and backfilling are used to document axogenesis and the progressive expansion of the dendritic arbor of the TCG from mid-embryogenesis up to hatching. Comparative maps of embryonic neuroblasts from several orthopteroid insects suggest equivalent deutocerebral neuroblasts from which the homologous TCG neurons already identified in the adult brain could originate. Our data offer the prospect of identifying further lineage-related neurons from the cluster and so understand a brain connectome from both a developmental and evolutionary perspective.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Development Genes and EvolutionISSN
0949-944XPublisher
SpringerExternal DOI
Issue
3-4Volume
228Page range
149-162Department affiliated with
- Biology and Environmental Science Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-10-01First Open Access (FOA) Date
2019-04-18First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-10-01Usage metrics
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