Strand receptors with central cell bodies in the proximal leg joints of orthopterous insects

Abstract

In various orthopterous insects backfilling of leg nerve 3B regularly stained, in the thoracic ganglia, small cell bodies that resemble those of central sensory neurons reported in the locust (Bräunig and Hustert 1980). Centrifugal cobalt infusion of this nerve revealed the end organs of those neurons in the periphery. In all species investigated one strand receptor is associated with the trochantin, while two others are situated in the coxa. In addition to these sense organs, the coxa contains a multipolar stretch receptor which spans the coxotrochanteral joint. The absence of chordotonal organs is discussed with reference to earlier work in this field.