LE3 .A278 2009

2009

Hillier, Kirk

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Biology

Biology

In recent years, research into the neurophysiology of insect olfaction has shown that male Heliothis virescens possess olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) that arborize to interneurons in two separate locations in the brain: the medial region of the antennal lobe, which contains neurons tuned to host-plant volatiles, and a specialized sexually dimorphic region located at the base of the antennal nerve called the macroglomerular complex (MGC), which contains neurons tuned to pheromones. However, little is known about these interneurons‟ reactions to blends comprised of host-plant volatiles and pheromones. The objective of this study was to analyze the responses elicited by interneurons in both the medial region and MGC in the antennal lobes of H. virescens males when stimulated with blends of various host-plant volatiles and pheromones. Extracellular sharp-glass electrode recording from within the brain of male moths suggests that such blends primarily cause inhibition in neurons within the isomorphic glomeruli, but also that blend stimulation may evoke synergistic responses. In addition, the pheromone and host-plant odours independently demonstrated inhibitory effects. This study suggests that odour processing of blends is configural and that communication within the antennal lobe is global. In addition, this project will provide a standard for the detection of elicited responses and allow future research using the equipment and techniques developed in this project.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:575