Nervous System of Periplaneta americana Cockroach as a Model in Toxinological Studies: A Short Historical and Actual View

Figure 1

Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) nervous system. (a) Isolated abdominal nerve cord with last thoracic (1) ganglion and cercal nerves (4) linked to cerci (5). Giant axon is isolated from one connective between the 4th and the 5th ganglion (2). DUM neurons and cercal nerve-giant interneuron synapses are located in last abdominal ganglion (3). (b) Isolated giant axon dissected from one connective, accompanied by the second connective which protects the axon when the preparation is transferred to experimental chamber; axon diameter ~50 μm. (c) Isolated DUM neuron.