Glomeruli of the Drosophila Antennal Lobe

Dorsal Anterior and Central Glomeruli

D-glomerulus

D-array, class 1
monosensillar type 1, antennal basiconic sensilla

DA1-glomerulus

VA1-array, class 1
monosensillar type 1, antennal trichoid sensilla
function: sensitive to alcohols, acids, aldehydes, ketones

DA2-glomerulus

VA1-array, class 1
function: sensitive to aldehydes.

DA3-glomerulus

VA1-array, class 2
function: sensitive to aldehydes, ketones

DA4-glomerulus

VA1-array, class 2
This glomerulus may be compartmented (cf. specimens 3 & 4)

DC1-glomerulus

D-array, class 1

DC2-glomerulus

D-array, class 2

Dorsal Lateral Glomeruli

DL1-glomerulus

DM3-array, class 1
monosensillar type 1, antennal basiconic sensilla
function: almost exclusively sensitive to organic acids

DL2-glomerulus, dorsal compartment

DM3-array, class 2
polysensillar type 1, trichoid, coeloconic and antennal basiconic sensilla
function: sensitive to ketones

DL2-glomerulus, ventral compartment

DM3-array, class 2
polysensillar type 1, trichoid, coeloconic and antennal basiconic sensilla
function: sensitive to ketones
These two compartments are sometimes not discernible (cf. specimen 3)

DL3-glomerulus

D-array, class 1
This glomerulus was compartmented in one specimen (cf. specimen 4)

Dorsal Medial Glomeruli

DM1-glomerulus

DM3-array, class 3
monosensillar type 1, antennal basiconic sensilla
function: almost exclusively sensitive to acetates

DM2-glomerulus

DM3-array, class 3
monosensillar type 2, maxillary basiconic sensilla
function: sensitive to aldehydes, ketones, esters

DM3-glomerulus

core glomerulus of the DM3-array, class 1
function: sensitive to ketones

Dorsal Posterior Glomeruli

DP1-glomerulus, medial compartment

DM3-array, class 3
function: sensitive to ketones

DP1-glomerulus, lateral compartment

DM3-array, class 3
function: sensitive to ketones
DP1 is the glomerulus at the posterior end of the antennal lobe. Glomeruli VP 1-3 appear to be ventral of DP1, but they can not be distinguished in nc82 stained antennal lobes.

Ventral Anterior Glomeruli

V-glomerulus

core glomerulus of the V-array, class 1
monosensillar type 2, antennal basiconic sensilla
This glomerulus is outstanding by its ventral, isolated position and thus very easily recognizable.

VA1-glomerulus, dorsal compartment

core glomerulus of the VA1-array, class 1
monosensillar type 2, trichoid sensilla
function: sensitive to alcohols, esters, ketones

VA1-glomerulus, lateral compartment

core glomerulus of the VA1-array, class 1
monosensillar type 2, trichoid sensilla
function: sensitive to alcohols, esters, ketones

VA1-glomerulus, medial compartment

core glomerulus of the VA1-array, class 1
monosensillar type 2, trichoid sensilla
function: sensitive to alcohols, esters, ketones
The VA1 complex appears with a very characteristic and reproducible shape and, with its three compartments, is the biggest glomerulus of the antennal lobe.

VA2-glomerulus

core glomerulus of the VA2-array, class 1
function: sensitive to esters, aldehydes
VA2 may, as in this specimen, have a posterior compartment

VA3-glomerulus

VA2-array, class 1
monosensillar type 1, maxillary basiconic sensilla
function: sensitive to alcohols, aldehydes, ketones

VA4-glomerulus

VA2-array, class 1
monosensillar type 1, maxillary basiconic sensilla

VA5-glomerulus

VA1-array, class 3
VA5 may be compartmented (cf. specimen 1)

VA6-glomerulus

VA1-array, class 2

VA7-glomerulus, lateral compartment

VA2-array, class 3

VA7-glomerulus, medial compartment

VA2-array, class 3

Ventral Central and Lateral Glomeruli

VC1-glomerulus

V-array, class 1

VC2-glomerulus

VA2-array, class 1

VC3-glomerulus, lateral compartment

V-array, class 3

VC3-glomerulus, medial compartment

V-array, class 3

VL1-glomerulus

V-array, class 1
polysensillar type 1; antennal trichoid and coeloconic sensilla; pharyngial sensilla
function: sensitive to alcohols

VL2-glomerulus, anterior compartment

V-array, class 1
monosensillar type 1; antennal basiconic sensilla
function: sensitive to alcohols

VL2-glomerulus, posterior compartment

V-array, class 1
monosensillar type 1; antennal basiconic sensilla
function: sensitive to alcohols

Ventral Medial Glomeruli

VM1-glomerulus

V-array, class 1
polysensillar type 1, antennal trichoid, coeloconic and basiconic sensilla
function: sensitive to a wide range of chemicals: alcohols, acids, esters, aldehydes, ketones

VM2-glomerulus

VA2-array, class 2
function: sensitive to esters, ketones, aldehydes.

VM3-glomerulus

VA2-array, class 2

VM4-glomerulus

VA2-array, class 1

VM5-glomerulus

VA2-array, class 3

Newly Described Glomeruli

DC3-glomerulus

D-array, class 2

DL4-glomerulus

D-array, class 1

DL5-glomerulus

DM3-array, class 1

DM4-glomerulus

DM3-array, class 3

DM5-glomerulus

VA2-array, class 1

DM6-glomerulus

VA2-array, class 1

VM6-glomerulus

V-array, class 3

VM7-glomerulus

DM3-array, class 2

Extra Glomerulus & Compartment

Extra glomerulus medial of V-glomerulus

A similar extra glomerulus can be seen in specimen 3

Extra compartment in VA2-glomerulus

Further extra compartments can be seen in the other three surface models and are indicated in this list

Refernces:

Rodrigues V, Buchner E. 1984. [³H]2-Deoxyglucose mapping of odor-induced neuronal activity in the antennal lobes of Drosophila melanogaster. Brain Res 324:374-378.

Rodrigues V. 1988. Spatial coding of olfactory information in the antennal lobe of Drosophila melanogaster. Brain Res 453:299-307.

Stocker RF. 1994. The organization of the chemosensory system in Drosophila melanogaster: a review. Cell Tissue Res 275:3-26.

P.P. Laissue, P.R. Hiesinger and C. Reiter, 1999.