CONSTANCIES IN THE NEURONAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE SUBESOPHAGEAL GANGLION AT METAMORPHOSIS IN THE BEETLE TENEBRIO-MOLITOR-L

Topological organization of identified neurons has been characterized for the larval, pupal and imaginal suboeosphageal neuropil of the meal-worm beetle Tenebrio molitor. Neuronal fate mapping allows identification of individually persisting neurons in the metamorphosing suboesophageal ganglion of Tenebrio. Analysis was performed on interneurons characterized by serotonin and CCAP (crustacean cardioactive peptide) immunohistochemistry, on motoneurons that innervate the dorsal and ventral longitudinal muscles, and on suboesophageal descending neurons. All these different populations of neurons show topologically invariant features throughout metamorphosis. Motoneurons, interneurons, and descending suboesophageal neurons of the imaginal suboesophageal ganglion embody individually persisting larval interneurons. Impacts for a functional interpretation of the neuronal architecture of the suboesophageal ganglion are discussed.