Adaptation of antennal neurons in moths is associated with cessation of pheromone-mediated upwind flight

A wind-borne plume of sex pheromone from a female moth or a synthetic source has a fine, filamentous structure that creates steep and rapid fluctuations in concentration from a male moth flying up the plume's axis. The firing rates from single antennal neurons on Agrotis segetum antennae decreased to nearly zero within seconds after the antennae were placed in a pheromone plume 70 cm downwind of a high-concentration source known from previous studies to cause in-flight arrestment of upwind progress. In a separate experiment, the fluctuating output from chilled neurons on Grapholita molesta antennae became attenuated in response to repetitive, experimentally delivered pheromone pulses. The attenuation was correlated with a previously reported higher percentage of in-flight arrestment exhibited by moths flying at cooler compared to warmer temperatures. These results indicate that two peripheral processes related to excessive concentration, complete adaptation of antennal neurons, or merely the attenuation of fluctuations in burst frequency, are important determinants of when upwind progress by a moth flying in a pheromone plume stops and changes to station keeping. Also, adaptation and attenuation may affect the sensation of blend quality by preferentially affecting cells sensitive to the most abundant components in airborne pheromone blends.

Hansson, Bill StefanLund University (författare)
Lofstedt, ChristerLund University,Lunds universitet,Funktionell zoologi,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Functional zoology,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science(Swepub:lu)ekol-clo (författare)
Löfqvist, JanLund University (författare)
University of California, RiversideLund University (creator_code:org_t)

Ingår i:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences85:24, s. 9826-98300027-8424
Ingår i:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences85:24, s. 9826-98301091-6490

Av författaren/redakt...: Baker, Thomas C.; Hansson, Bill St ...; Lofstedt, Christ ...; Löfqvist, Jan

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