Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to investigate the number, distribution and morphology of cell bodies in the antennal lobe of adults of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. 【Methods】 The nuclear staining and laser scanning confocal microscope were used to acquire the confocal image stacks of antennal lobe. The cell digital three-dimensional reconstructions were created by the Imaris software, and the volumes and surface areas of cell bodies were measured by using the statistic tool of the Imaris software. 【Results】 A lot of cell bodies are distributed in the medial cell cluster (MCCL), lateral cell cluster (LCCL) and anterior cell cluster (ACCL) of the antennal lobe of P. xylostella adults, and some irregular giant cells exist in the MCCL and LCCL. There are about 560 cell bodies in the antennal lobe in females, and 810 in males, more in males than in females. The morphology of cell bodies varies significantly, and three-dimensional reconstructions of cell bodies showed that most of them are nearly spherical. The surface area and volume of the smallest cell body are 96.7 μm² and 76.9 μm³, and those of the nuclei are 42.5 μm² and 24.1 μm³, respectively. The surface area and volume of the largest cell body are 389 μm² and 514 μm³, and the surface area and volume of the nuclei are 265 μm² and 261 μm³, respectively. 【Conclusion】 The characteristics of cell bodies in the antennal lobe of P. xylostella have been illustrated in this study, which will provide a basis for further understanding the anatomical structure and physiological function of the central nervous system.

Key words: Plutella xylostella, brain, antennal lobe, cell body, three-dimensional model, laser scanning confocal microscope