A subpopulation of dorsal unpaired median neurons in the blood-feeding insect Rhodnius prolixus displays serotonin-like immunoreactivity.

We describe, for the first time in insects, the presence of serotonin-like immunoreactive dorsal unpaired median (DUM) neurons. In unfed, untreated Rhodnius prolixus, the cell bodies of these DUM neurons displayed only faint serotonin-like immunofluorescence without any detectable fluorescence in the axons. There was, however, an extensive serotonin-like immunoreactive peripheral complex. We have enhanced the immunostaining of the cell bodies and axons of these DUM neurons by using 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) and nerve transection, and have further defined their morphology with cobalt backfilling and Lucifer yellow injection. Injection of 5,7-DHT resulted in enhanced serotonin-like immunostaining, after 24 hours, of five DUM neurons in the mesothoracic ganglionic mass. Each DUM neuron possessed bifurcating serotonin-like immunoreactive axons projecting to the periphery via one of the five bilaterally paired abdominal nerves. Concomitant with the enhanced immunostaining in the cell body and axons of these DUM neurons was the depletion of a serotonin-like immunoreactive neurohaemal area lying on each of the abdominal nerves and the depletion of serotonin-like immunoreactive processes on the body wall. Enhancement of cell body and axon immunostaining was also observed in preparations in which the abdominal nerves had been transected 24 hours previously. The location and morphology of these DUM neurons were studied in further detail by using cobalt backfilling of the abdominal nerves and intracellular injection of Lucifer yellow followed by immunohistochemistry. The five serotonin-like immunoreactive DUM neurons were found to represent a subpopulation in a group of ten DUM neurons located in the mesothoracic ganglionic mass and associated with the abdominal nerves. Each abdominal nerve received projections from two DUM neurons, only one of which was serotonin-like immunoreactive. Electrophysiological recordings revealed that the serotonin-like immunoreactive DUM neurons of Rhodnius had similar properties to previously described octopaminergic DUM neurons of insects. The five DUM neurons in Rhodnius appear to represent a subpopulation of DUM neurons containing serotonin.