The Exoskeleton and Insect Proprioception: II. Reflex Effects of Tibial Campaniform Sensilla in the American Cockroach, Periplaneta Americana

1981 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-55
Author(s):  
SASHA N. ZILL ◽  
DAVID T. MORAN ◽  
FRANCISCO G. VARELA
Keyword(s):  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Opposite Sign ◽  
Feedback System ◽  
American Cockroach ◽  
Campaniform Sensilla ◽  
Leg Muscles ◽  
Antagonist Muscles ◽  
Campaniform Sensillum ◽  
Oriented Parallel ◽  
Stimulation Of

1. Mechanical stimulation of individual tibial campaniform sensilla produces specific reflex effects upon motoneurones to leg muscles. 2. The reflex effects of a campaniform sensillum depend upon the orientation of its cuticular cap. The proximal sensilla, oriented perpendicular to the long axis of the tibia, excite slow motoneurones to the extensor tibiae and extensor trochanteris muscles and inhibit slow motoneurones to the flexor tibiae and flexor trochanteris muscles. The distal sensilla, oriented parallel to the tibia, exhibit reflexes of opposite sign, inhibiting the extensors and exciting the flexors. 3. These reflexes constitute a negative feedback system. Individual sensilla specifically excite motoneurones which innervate muscles whose resultant tensions decrease the firing of those sensilla. 4. It is postulated that individual campaniform sensilla can detect loading of the leg in various postures and can excite appropriate motoneurones in compensation. These receptors can also detect strains caused by large, resisted contractions of the antagonist muscles and inhibit the corresponding motoneurones.

The Exoskeleton and Insect Proprioception: III. Activity of Tribal Campaniform Sensilla During Walking in the American Cockroach, Periplaneta Americana

1981 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-75
Author(s):  
SASHA N. ZILL ◽  
DAVID T. MORAN
Keyword(s):  
Stance Phase ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Firing Frequency ◽  
American Cockroach ◽  
Campaniform Sensilla ◽  
Afferent Activity ◽  
Step Cycle ◽  
Slow Walking ◽  
Oriented Parallel

1. In the cockroach tibia, the activities of campaniform sensilla that monitor cuticular strain have been recorded in free-walking animals. 2. In walking, sensillum firing is correlated with myographic activity of the flexor and extensor tibiae muscles. 3. The specific activity of a single campaniform sensillum depends upon the orientation of its cuticular cap. 4. In slow walking, proximal sensilla, whose ovoid cuticular caps are oriented perpendicular to the leg long axis, fire in bursts that are initiated just prior to the onset of extensor tibiae activity in the stance phase of locomotion. The firing frequency within bursts of proximal sensilla is generally inversely related to the frequency of the slow extensor tibiae motoneurone and ceases when motoneurone activity exceeds 200 Hz. 5. Distal campaniform sensilla, oriented parallel to the leg long axis, only fire when slow extensor tibiae activity exceeds 300 Hz. In slow walking, distal sensillum activity typically occurs as a short intense burst near the end of the stance phase of the step cycle, when slow extensor frequency is maximal. Distal sensillum firing is greatly increased when forward progression is impeded. 6. The patterns of afferent activity seen in slow walking indicate that the campaniform sensilla function in load compensation and limitation of muscle tensions. The proximal sensilla respond to initial loading of the leg and can reflexly excite the slow extensor motoneurone in compensation. The distal sensilla respond to cuticular strains that result from large extensor contractions and can reflexly inhibit the slow motoneurone. 7. In rapid walking, activities of both subgroups of campaniform sensilla shift in phase relative to slow extensor firing. Proximal sensilla activity occurs after the onset of slow extensor firing. Distal sensilla bursts follow the termination of slow extensor activity. 8. These phase shifts limit the reflex functions of the tibial campaniform sensilla in rapid walking. Shifts in phase of afferent activity may contribute to the need for central programming of locomotion.

Organization of the Giant Axons of the Cockroach Periplaneta Americana

1969 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-627
Author(s):  
M. E. SPIRA ◽  
I. PARNAS ◽  
F. BERGMANN
Keyword(s):  
Nerve Cord ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Thoracic Ganglion ◽  
American Cockroach ◽  
Abdominal Ganglion ◽  
Common Pathway ◽  
Average Delay ◽  
Giant Axons ◽  
Stimulation Of

1. Stimulation of the connectives between the suboesophageal and prothoracic ganglia of the American cockroach induced ipsilateral descending spikes in the abdominal giant axons with an average delay of 0·6 msec, per thoracic ganglion. 2. Nicotine at 5 µg./ml. had no effect on conduction in the abdomen but blocked ascending responses sequentially at the 6th abdominal ganglion then at the levels of T1; T2, and T3. 3. Simultaneous descending and ascending impulses resulted in mutual extinction along the nerve cord with the point of collision depending on the interval between stimuli. 4. It is suggested that a common pathway subserves ascending and descending giant impulses and models for bi-directional conduction are discussed.

scholarly journals The mechanism of sensory transduction in a mechanoreceptor. Functional stages in campaniform sensilla during the molting cycle.

1976 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 832-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
D T Moran ◽  
J C Rowley ◽  
S N Zill ◽  
F G Varela
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Stimulation ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Sensory Transduction ◽  
Campaniform Sensilla ◽  
Molting Cycle ◽  
Campaniform Sensillum ◽  
Ultrastructural Modifications ◽  
Sensory Process ◽  
Stimulation Of

This paper describes the ultrastructural modifications that cockroach campaniform sensilla undergo at three major stages in the molting cycle and finds that the sensilla are physiological functional at all developmental stages leading to ecdysis. Late stage animals on the verge of ecdysis have two completely separate cuticles. The campaniform sensillum sends a 220-mum extension of the sensory process through a hole in its cap in the new (inner) cuticle across a fluid-filled molting space to its functional insertion in the cap in the old (outer) cuticle. Mechanical stimulation of the old cap excites the sensillum. The ultrastructural geometry of late stage sensilla, coupled with the observation they are physiolgically functional, supports the hypotheses (a) that sensory transduction occurs at the tip of the sensory process, and (b) that cap identation causes the cap cuticle to pinch the tip of the sensory process, thereby stimulating the sensillum.

The Exoskeleton and Insect Proprioception. I. Responses of Tibial Campaniform Sensilla to External and Muscle-Generated Forces in the American Cockroach, Periplaneta Americana

1981 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
SASHA N. ZILL ◽  
DAVID T. MORAN
Keyword(s):  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Muscle Contractions ◽  
American Cockroach ◽  
Strain Gauges ◽  
Directional Sensitivity ◽  
Campaniform Sensilla ◽  
Flexor Muscle ◽  
Axial Forces ◽  
Axial Tension ◽  
Leg Axis

1. The tibial campaniform sensilla are a group of mechanoreceptors in the cockroach leg that respond to cuticular strain. Each sensillum consists of a single bipolar neurone whose dendrite inserts into an ovoid cuticular cap embedded in the exoskeleton. 2. The tibial campaniform sensilla are consistently separable into two subgroups with mutually perpendicular cap orientation: the long axis of the caps of proximal subgroups are oriented perpendicular to the tibial long axis; caps of the distal subgroup are parallel to the tibia. 3. The responses of individual, identified sensilla from both subgroups were tested to the following forces: bending forces (perpendicular to the leg long axis), axial forces (parallel to the leg axis), torques (twisting about the leg long axis) and forces generated by the tibial muscles. 4. The tibial campaniform sensilla respond vigorously to bending forces imposed in the plane of movement of the adjacent femorotibial joint. Individual sensilla exhibit orientation-dependent directional sensitivity in their response: the proximal sensilla respond only to dorsal bending; the distal sensilla respond only to ventral bending. Sensilla respond less vigorously to bending forces in other planes. 5. Responses are weak but directionally sensitive to axial forces: the proximal sensilla fire upon axial compression; the distal sensilla fire upon axial tension. 6. Both subgroups respond simultaneously but weakly to imposed torques. 7. Contractions of the tibial muscles produce strong orientation dependent responses: the proximal sensilla respond only to flexor muscle contractions; the distal sensilla respond only to extensor muscle contractions. 8. These responses are accurately predicted from a simple model in which the tibia behaves as a cylinder under stress. The tibial campaniform sensilla respond as directionally sensitive strain gauges. Each individual sensillum responds only to compressions perpendicular to the long axis of its cuticular cap. 9. Tibial campaniform sensilla respond best to those forces that the animal can most effectively control.

scholarly journals The Reflex Mechanism of the Insect Leg

1940 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. S. PRINGLE
Keyword(s):  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Intact Animal ◽  
Sensory Stimulation ◽  
Rhythmic Movements ◽  
Reflex Mechanism ◽  
Leg Muscles ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Motor Fibre ◽  
Depressor Reflex ◽  
Stimulation Of

1. Variations in the frequency of the motor discharges to the leg muscles of Periplaneta americana are followed in the intact animal under different types of sensory stimulation by electrical recording from the muscles. 2. Two main reflexes are described: the depressor reflex, evoked by stimulation of the campaniform sensilla on the legs, and a levator response to touch on the upper side of the leg. 3. There is a direct antagonism in the excitation of the depressor and levator sets of muscles: also between similar muscles in the two legs of a segment. 4. Reflex effects are not transmitted up or down the animal to other segments. 5. The conditions for the reflex excitation of the two types of motor fibre are discussed. 6. A suggestion is put forward for the explanation of rhythmic movements.

scholarly journals Orthoptera and allies in the Maritime provinces, Canada: new records and updated provincial checklists

2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Klymko ◽  
Paul Catling ◽  
Jeffrey B. Ogden ◽  
Robert W. Harding ◽  
Donald F. McAlpine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
New Records ◽  
American Cockroach ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Praying Mantis ◽  
Mole Cricket ◽  
Oecanthus Nigricornis ◽  
Periplaneta Australasiae

We provide an updated checklist of Orthoptera and their allies for each Maritime province of Canada with details for 21 new species records. Drumming Katydid (Meconema thalassinum), recorded from Nova Scotia (NS) and Prince Edward Island (PEI), and Sprinkled Grasshopper (Chloealtis conspersa), recorded from New Brunswick (NB) are reported for the first time from the Maritimes as a whole. We report range extensions in the Maritime region for Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae; NB), Treetop Bush Katydid (Scudderia fasciata; NS), Short-legged Camel Cricket (Ceuthophilus brevipes; PEI), Spotted Camel Cricket (Ceuthophilus maculatus; PEI), Roesel’s Shield-backed Katydid (Roeseliana roesellii; NS), and Black-horned Tree Cricket (Oecanthus nigricornis; PEI). Short-winged Mole Cricket (Neoscapteriscus abbreviatus; NB) and European Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa; NS) are reported as adventives (non-native species that are believed to be not yet established), new to Canada from the Maritimes. Other new records for species not known to be established are Lined Earwig (Doru taeniatum; NS), Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae; PEI), American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana; NB), Brown Cockroach (Periplaneta brunnea; PEI), Smooth Cockroach (Nyctibora laevigata; NB), West Indian Leaf Cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis; NB), an unidentified Parcoblatta species (NB), Brown-banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa; PEI), Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa; NB), and American Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca americana; NS).

scholarly journals Cholesterol turnover in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.)

1964 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 418-421
Author(s):  
Hugh E. Vroman ◽  
J.N. Kaplanis ◽  
W.E. Robbins
Keyword(s):  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
American Cockroach
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