Regeneration of a sensory system: The formation of central connections by normal and transplanted cerci of the house cricket Acheta domesticus

The abdominal cerci of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus, regenerate after amputation. Regenerating sensory fibers establish normal functional connection with the giant fiber system in the terminal ganglion. When cercal regenerates were transplanted to the stumps of the mesothoracic legs, a cercus developed instead of the usual leg regenerate. The regenerate cercus sent fibers to the mesothoracic ganglion. Histological and electrophysiological evidence is presented which demonstrates the formation of synaptic contact with elements of the giant fiber system in the ganglion of the segment receiving the graft. It is inferred that regenerating sensory fibers can recognize the central fibers on which they normally terminate, in this case the giant fibers, at some distance from the normal region of synaptic contact. They recognise the cell as a whole rather than a specific synaptic area.