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

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in neuroanatomy 2015-02, Vol.8, p.166-166
Main Authors: Bressan, Joris M A, Benz, Martin, Oettler, Jan, Heinze, Jürgen, Hartenstein, Volker, Sprecher, Simon G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptations
Anatomy
Animal behavior
Arthropods
Axons
Bees
Behavioral plasticity
Biology
Brain
Brain architecture
Brain mapping
Cardiocondyla
Cardiocondyla obscurior
Castes
Central nervous system
Eusociality
Fiber tracts
Hymenoptera
Insects
Localization
Neuroanatomy
Neuropil
Neuropile compartements
Neuroscience
Niches
Sheaths
Synapsin
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1662-5129
1662-5129
DOI:10.3389/fnana.2014.00166