โ Scribed by Philippe Lucas
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Insects rely heavily on their ability to detect and differentiate among a myriad of chemical signals from their environment for survival. The morphology and physiology of insect antennae are highly specialized for odor detection. The outstanding sensitivity and selectivity of the pheromone receptors of Lepidoptera have been highlighted for a long time by an abundant literature.
Research on insect olfaction is of primary importance for basic research. How animals encode qualitative and quantitative information about olfactory stimuli, and how this information is integrated to elicit an appropriate behavior, is a central question in neurobiology. Insect and vertebrate olfactory systems have striking similarities (Hildebrand and Shepherd, 1997). Insects present the advantage of the reduced cellular complexity of their olfactory system compared to their mammalian counterpart. Moreover, their olfactory neurons are housed in cuticular projections, the sensilla, that can be mapped, and are suitable for recording in vivo the activity of their sensory neurons using extracellular techniques. Finally, behavioral responses to olfactory stimuli can be monitored using dedicated equipment such as olfactometers or wind tunnels. Using these approaches, a number of odorant chemicals have been identified and their biological activity well characterized. Studies of insect olfaction also have important agronomic applications. Research into odors that modify the behavior of pest insects can be used in the development of environmentally friendly methods for pest management.
Research on insect olfaction has recently made significant progress. The aim of the present issue of Microscopy Research and Technique is to present new developments in functional morphology of the olfactory organs from different insect groups.
Drosophila melanogaster has become a central model for studies using genetic and molecular techniques. Odor receptors were recently identified concomitantly by two different groups in this species. In the opening paper, Stocker (pages 284 -296, in this issue) summarizes data obtained by different laboratories using neuroanatomic, electrophysiological, and molecular approaches that address olfactory pathways and processing in Drosophila melanogaster. In the following paper, Shanbhag et al. (pages 297-306, in this issue) report on mapping of Odorant Binding Protein expression in Drosophila antennae and maxillary palps, shedding new lights on the possible role and specificity of these proteins in insect olfaction.
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