Vácha Martin, Půzová Tereza, Drstková Dana
Department of Animal Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlárská 2, Brno 611 37, Czech Republic.
Neurosci Lett. 2008 Apr 18;435(2):103-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.02.024. Epub 2008 Feb 16.
Neither a mode of function nor an exact anatomical localisation of the animal magnetoreceptor have been identified in any organism. Insects' antennae are organs specialized as unique neural input structures for a number of sensory modalities and have also been suggested to play a certain role in magnetoreception. In the present study, we used the American cockroach Periplaneta americana and tested the impact of amputation of both its antennae on the spontaneous magnetosensitive behaviour. By means of a full-laboratory assay we registered a non-specific unlearned movement reaction to the changing magnetic environment within the frame of the natural time and intensity parameters of the field. We report no loss of the magnetoreceptive behaviour in antennaeless cockroaches. Our finding narrows the spectrum of the insects' magnetite-rich nerve structures which might potentially be involved in magnetoreception.
在任何生物体中，动物磁感受器的功能模式和确切解剖定位都尚未确定。昆虫的触角是专门作为多种感觉模态的独特神经输入结构的器官，也有人认为触角在磁感受中起一定作用。在本研究中，我们使用了美洲大蠊（Periplaneta americana），测试了切除其双触角对自发磁敏感行为的影响。通过全实验室测定，我们记录了在磁场的自然时间和强度参数范围内，对变化的磁环境的非特异性、未学习的运动反应。我们报告无触角蟑螂的磁感受行为没有丧失。我们的发现缩小了可能潜在参与磁感受的富含磁铁矿的昆虫神经结构的范围。
