Figure: Multichannel recording from the AL. (A) Maximum intensity projection of the AL with the localization of the recording probe (shown with red arrow). The insertion of probes in the AL (A’) and the location of probe (A’’) in reconstructed from Figure A. (B, B’’) The AL is reconstructed from the autofluorescent properties of the brain in males and females respectively. The number of labeled glomeruli is slightly different in males and females. The reconstruction is made from two preparations preparation only. (C) Representative odor-evoked response to the datura floral odor obtained from channel 16. The stimulation duration is 400msec represented by the solid black bar.
The multichannel recordings from the AL were performed. At the current state, we were able to record from the frontally orientated AL through one shank probe containing 16 channels, particularly at the anterior ventral part of the AL (Figure 1A; red arrow). Soon, I will also record multichannel recordings with four shank probes. Interestingly, the single probe was localized at the periphery of the glomerulus rather than the core of the glomerulus (Figure 1A’, A’’). However, we could not match the recording glomeruli with the nomenclature of the ordinary glomerulus (OG) in the AL of M. sexta as the standard AL atlas is not available (best to our knowledge) nor the odor-evoked response for all OG is available. Identifying the glomerulus and its odor-evoked responses is a potential future research area. We have been performing neuronal ensemble from the AL via multichannel probes to the floral mixture and their dilutions. These different populations of neurons will exhibit different responses to these floral odors. Some may be activated to the glomerulus, and others may be inhibited. The spike sorting needs to be done.
Also, how the units obtained from the electrophysiological recording are synchronized with other units will also be investigated. We plan to record from the lateral accessory lobe (LAL) combined with AL and intracellular recordings from DNs.