Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster, an established model for genetic manipulation, has recently been used for studying olfactory perception, learning, and memory. Some of these important behavioral phenomena have been dissected with defined mutants, some to a single biochemical lesion, expressed in central brain structures known as the mushroom bodies. A previously introduced preparation used a window in the head capsule through which these structures could be imaged using genetically expressed fluorescent calcium sensors while applying physiological odorant stimuli. Unfortunately, technical constraints prevented direct manipulation of the mushroom bodies with this preparation. I describe here a preparation that will allow, for the first time, the direct pharmacological manipulation of these important structures during imaging in the living adult fly. Responses to discreet applications of acetylcholine were reversibly blocked with tubocurare and reversibly eliminated in calcium-free Ringers. This new technique will significantly enhance the usefulness of the Drosophila model system, allowing a more quantitative examination of the mechanisms involved in olfactory learning and memory.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Acetylcholine / pharmacology
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Animals
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Brain / drug effects
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Brain / physiology
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Brain / surgery*
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Calcium / analysis
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Calcium / metabolism
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Calcium Signaling / drug effects
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Calcium Signaling / physiology
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Diffusion Chambers, Culture / methods
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Diffusion Chambers, Culture / trends
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Drosophila melanogaster / anatomy & histology
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Drosophila melanogaster / drug effects*
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Drosophila melanogaster / physiology
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Electrophysiology / instrumentation
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Electrophysiology / methods*
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Fluorescent Dyes
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Membrane Potentials / drug effects
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Membrane Potentials / physiology
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Mushroom Bodies / drug effects
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Mushroom Bodies / physiology
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Mushroom Bodies / surgery
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Neurochemistry / instrumentation
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Neurochemistry / methods
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / physiology
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Neuropharmacology / instrumentation
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Neuropharmacology / methods*
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Nicotinic Antagonists / pharmacology
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Optics and Photonics / instrumentation*
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Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
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Smell / drug effects
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Smell / physiology
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Tubocurarine / pharmacology
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Vivisection / instrumentation
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Vivisection / methods*
Substances
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Fluorescent Dyes
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Nicotinic Antagonists
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Acetylcholine
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Calcium
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Tubocurarine