ABSTRACT
Studies in cricket larvae (Acheta domesticus) revealed that descending sulfakinin-ir-neurons (PDS-neurons) from the sensorimotor area of the brain are insensitive to gravity deprivation if they were exposed to microgravity after determination of their shape. In the project CRISP-2, we now extent these studies to answer the question whether neuronal proliferation or neurogenesis are affected by altered gravity. As indicator we use, in 1st instars, the morphology of perisulfakinin and CCAP immunoreactive neurons in the central nervous system which project towards the last abdominal ganglion, the input site of cercal gravity receptors. We have now completed the quantitative analysis of these neurons in 1st instars reared exclusively under 1g-conditions.
