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Differential expression of synapsin in visual neurons of the locust Schistocerca gregaria

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Gerd Leitinger, Dr Claire RindORCiD, Dr Peter Simmons

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Abstract

In many taxa, photoreceptors and their second-order neurons operate with graded changes in membrane potential and can release neurotransmitter tonically. A common feature of such neurons in vertebrates is that they have not been found to contain synapsins, a family of proteins that indicate the presence of a reserve pool of synaptic vesicles at synaptic sites. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of synapsin-like immunoreactivity in the compound eye and ocellar photoreceptor cells of the locust Schistocerca gregaria and in some of the second-order neurons. By combining confocal laser scanning microscopy with electron microscopy, we found that photoreceptor cells of both the compound eye and the ocellus lacked synapsin-like immunostaining. In contrast, lamina monopolar cells and large ocellar L interneurons of the lateral ocellus were immunopositive to synapsin. We also identified the output synapses of the photoreceptors and of the L interneurons, and, whereas the photoreceptor synapses lacked immunolabeling, the outputs of the L interneurons were clearly labeled for synapsin. These findings suggest that the photoreceptors and the large second-order neurons of the locust differ in the chemical architecture of their synapses, and we propose that differences in the time course of neurotransmission are the reason for this. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Leitinger G, Pabst MA, Rind FC, Simmons PJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Comparative Neurology

Year: 2004

Volume: 480

Issue: 1

Pages: 89-100

ISSN (print): 0021-9967

ISSN (electronic): 1096-9861

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cne.20333

DOI: 10.1002/cne.20333

PubMed id: 15514920


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