Morphological specializations of mosquito CO₂-sensing olfactory receptor neurons.

ABSTRACT: Hematophagous mosquitoes use CO₂ as a key arousal signal that gates behavioral responses to host-derived cues. In Aedes aegypti, CO₂ is detected by olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) housed in the sensory hairs (sensilla) on the maxillary palp. While the molecular mechanism and behavioral significance of CO₂ sensing have been well studied in mosquitoes, the nanoscale three-dimensional structures of their CO₂-sensing ORNs and associated cells have remained unclear. Using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy, we characterize the CO₂-sensing cpA neuron and its odor-sensitive neighbors, cpB and cpC, within the capitate sensilla of A. aegypti. Notably, cpA neurons are significantly larger, with an outer dendritic surf

SUBMITTER: Charara S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12582328 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature