A LOCUST OCTOPAMINE-IMMUNOREACTIVE DORSAL UNPAIRED MEDIAN NEURONE FORMING TERMINAL NETWORKS ON SYMPATHETIC NERVES

In insects, octopamine is present in neurohaemal regions of the thoracic sympathetic nervous system, but its cellular source is unknown. We describe a dorsal unpaired median neurone (DUM1b) in the locust metathoracic ganglion that forms a meshwork of varicose, presumably neurohaemal, endings on the surfaces of sympathetic nerves. Other targets include several ventral longitudinal muscles, the spiracle closer muscle, tissue remnants of degenerated nymphal muscles and the salivary glands. Using an established antiserum, DUM1b is shown to be octopamine-immunoreactive, and its target muscles to be covered with octopamine-immunoreactive varicosities. Octopamine influences one of these muscles in essentially the same way that another well-described octopaminergic neurone, DUMEti, modulates the extensor tibiae muscle of the hind leg. We propose that DUM1b is an octopaminergic modulator of muscle contractions and may also influence numerous other body functions by releasing octopamine as a hormone from sympathetic neurohaemal areas.