OLFACTORY DENDRITES OF THE SILKMOTH ANTHERAEA-POLYPHEMUS CRAMER (LEPIDOPTERA, SATURNIIDAE) - IMMUNOFLUORESCENT STAINING OF CYTOSKELETAL PROTEINS AND TRANSMISSION ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

In this paper we show the presence of major cytoskeletal proteins : tu bulin, globular actin, and intermediate filament-like protein, 2 motor proteins: kinesin and unconventional myosin, and fodrin, in the olfac tory dendrites of the silkmoth Antheraea polyphemus (Cramer) (Lepidopt era: Saturniidae) by means of immunofluorescence microscopy. We also s how crossbridges between the membrane and the microtubules and between the microtubules themselves, as well as 'particle-like structures' cl ose to the microtubules, by means of transmission electron microscopy. Within the long and thin dendrites, the cytoskeletal proteins provide structural support to the membrane, and, together with the motor prot eins, are most probably involved in transport, motility and olfactory transduction. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.