Summary
Antennal hygroreceptors of the cockroach,Periplaneta americana L., have been investigated electrophysiologically. Two antagonistic types are present. One responds to moisture, the other to dryness.
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1.
The moist receptor responds to liquid water with an output pattern almost identical to that evoked by 100% r.h. stimulation (Figs. 2, 3). However, it is not inhibited by CaCl2 solutions (Fig. 4) as are dipteran labellar water receptors.
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2.
Local applications of water show that the stem of the sensillum guarded by the outer wall may be its specific receptive region.
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3.
The moist receptor is inhibited by glycerin whereas the dry receptor is excited by it (Fig. 5). These effects are consistent with the mild dehydration caused by this substance.
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4.
Both moist and dry receptor types respond to mechanical deformation of the sensillum, but antagonistically (Fig. 6).
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5.
Neither the moist nor dry receptors ofPeriplaneta are affected by three chemical repellents reported to inhibit the moist receptor of the mosquito (Figs. 7, 8, 9).
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6.
The cockroach hygroreceptors apparently transduce humidity changes to electrical potentials through mechanical strains induced in hygroscopic components by relative humidity (Fig. 10).
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The author is deeply indebted to Prof. Dr. T.H. Waterman, Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A., for revision of the manuscript. The author wishes to express his gratitude to Prof. Dr. H. Tateda for helpful discussion throughout this work.
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Yokohari, F. Hygroreceptor mechanism in the antenna of the cockroachPeriplaneta . J. Comp. Physiol. 124, 53–60 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00656391
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00656391