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Immunolocalization of a candidate pheromone receptor in the antenna of the male moth, Heliothis virescens

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Invertebrate Neuroscience

Abstract

Pheromone recognition in insects is thought to involve distinct receptor proteins in the dendritic membrane of antennal sensory neurons. We have generated antibodies directed against a peptide derived from the sequence of the candidate pheromone receptor HR13 from Heliothis virescens. The antibodies specifically labelled the cell bodies of a distinct neuron population housed in male-specific pheromone-sensitive sensilla. Combining antibody staining with in situ hybridization the reactive cells were found to express the HR13 gene. In addition, dendrites projecting into sensilla hairs as well as the axonal processes of immunoreactive cells were labelled. Labelling of axons has allowed visualization of their fasciculation within antennal segments and permits tracking of axons as they merge into the antennal nerve. The HR13 protein was first detected 1 day before eclosion. Thus, the distribution of HR13 protein in the antennal neurons of the male moth strongly suggests a role of the HR13 receptor in recognition of pheromones.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Prof. R. Wurster (Institute of Physics and Meteorology, University of Hohenheim) for making the scanning electron micrographs. We are grateful to Klaus Raming and Gerd Trautmann (Bayer CropScience) for cooperation and providing pupae of H. virescens and to Prof. H. Breer (Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim) for valuable advice and support. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grant KR1786/3-1 to J.K.).

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  1. Institute of Physiology (230), University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany

    Thomas Gohl & Jürgen Krieger

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  1. Thomas Gohl
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  2. Jürgen Krieger
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Correspondence to Jürgen Krieger.

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Gohl, T., Krieger, J. Immunolocalization of a candidate pheromone receptor in the antenna of the male moth, Heliothis virescens . Invert Neurosci 6, 13–21 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10158-005-0012-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10158-005-0012-9

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