Johnston's organ

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Johnston's organ is a collection of sensory cells found in the pedicel (the second segment) of the antennae in the Class Insecta.[1] Johnston's organ detects motion in the flagellum (third and typically final antennal segment). It consists of over 200 scolopidia arrayed in a bowl shape, each of which contains a mechanosensory chordotonal neuron.[2][3] The presence of Johnston's organ is a defining characteristic which separates the Class Insecta from the other hexapods belonging to the group Entognatha.

Johnston's organ can be seen in Drosophila. It consists of a sail-like flagellum which rotates in a structure called the funiculus. Air movement deforms the cuticle at the joint between segments 2 and 3 where the sensory units of Johnston’s organ attach. Johnston's organ reacts between 150 and 500 Hz. One function is for detecting the wing beat frequency of a mate.[2] The third segment can also be deformed by gravity irrespective of head orientation and this enables it to sense gravity.[1]

Johnston's organ was named after the physician Christopher Johnston,[4] father of the physician and Assyriologist Christopher Johnston.

Johnston's organ can also sense wind.[5]

Bees perceive electric field changes via the Johnston's organs in their antennae and possibly other mechano-receptors. They distinguish different temporal patterns and learn them. Honeybees appear to use the electric field emanating from the dancing bee for distance communication.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kamikouchi A, Inagaki HK, Effertz T, Hendrich O, Fiala A, Göpfert MC, Ito K. (2009).The neural basis of Drosophila gravity-sensing and hearing. Nature. 458(7235):165-71. PMID 19279630
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Göpfert MC, Robert D. (2002). The mechanical basis of Drosophila audition. J Exp Biol. 205(Pt 9):1199-208. PMID 11948197
  3. ↑ Yack JE. (2004). The structure and function of auditory chordotonal organs in insects. Microsc Res Tech. 63(6):315-37. PMID 15252876
  4. ↑ Johnston, C.. Auditory Apparatus of the Culex Mosquito. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, 1855, 3 (Old Series):97-102.
  5. ↑ Yorozu S, Wong A, Fischer BJ, Dankert H, Kernan MJ, Kamikouchi A, Ito K, Anderson DJ. (2009). Distinct sensory representations of wind and near-field sound in the Drosophila brain. Nature. 458(7235):201-5. PMID 19279637
  6. ↑ Greggers, Uwe; Koch G, Schmidt V, Dürr A, Floriou-Servou A, Piepenbrock D, Göpfert MC, Menzel R, (2013). "Reception and learning of electric fields". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.0528. 
  7. ↑ Greggers, Uwe. "ESF in bees". 
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