Agradecemos 4 revisores anônimos por seu trabalho para melhorar o manuscrito. Agradecemos ao Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique pelo apoio financeiro para MBG e YG, ea Université de Bourgogne e do Ministério da Investigação francês para MMS. Pesquisa no laboratório YG é financiado pelo Conselho Europeu de Investigação (ERC Começando Grant, GliSFCo-311403), a Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-JCJC, GGCB-2010), o Conseil Régional de Bourgogne (Faber), eo CNRS.

1. Antes de Começar <ol><li> Use um estoque de referência isogenized tendo fenótipos comportamentais estáveis ​​e robustos. Não existe uma regra geral para a escolha deste estoque, uma vez que todos os controles potenciais podem levar fundo heterogêneos alelos. </li><li> Use esta estirpe de controlo para todos os outros retrocruzamento estoque necessário para etapas posteriores. Esta etapa retrocruzamento é normalmente representado por pelo menos cinco cruzamentos sucessivos de uma única fêmea virgem (para permitir possível crossing-over entre cromossomos homólogos) para 2-3 machos referência isogênicos 5. Este passo é importante para homogeneizar o fundo genético entre as diferentes ações de voar. </li><li> Manter stocks de Drosophila em uma farinha de milho normal (9%), levedura de cerveja (10%), e meio de agar (1,5%) complementado com antibióticos (0,4% metil-para-hidroxi-benzoato de metilo) num ciclo de luz / escuro de 12 horas a 25 ° C. </li><li> Alcançar experimentos quimio em uma sala com temperatura controlada (25 ° C) sob luz vermelha extrema(Para eliminar a contribuição de sugestões visuais, e se concentrar em sinais de quimio). Regularmente renovar o ar do quarto para ventilar a área entre cada experimento. </li></ol> 2. Olfatório resposta utilizando um Ensaio Y-maze <ol><li> Starve as moscas de 16-18 horas a 25 ° C em tubos de vidro contendo uma toalha de papel húmido antes do teste. </li><li> Junte-se um conector em forma de Y para dois frascos de vidro e de um frasco de plástico inferior (carregamento frasco). Use 1 ml pontas de pipeta que passam as rolhas de espuma de ligação do conector para as três taças, e para obter um hermeticamente fechado Y-labirinto. Corte as pontas estreitas de dois pontas de pipeta (~ 2 mm de diâmetro, para evitar qualquer retorno da mosca uma vez que tenha feito a sua decisão) para formar dois frascos &quot;armadilha&quot;, e um grande fim de uma ponta de pipeta para formar o &quot;carregamento&quot; tubo (Figura 1A). </li><li> Pouco antes de conectar os frascos &quot;trap&quot; (Figura 1B), coloque uma ~ 6 milímetros de diâmetro em papel de filtrocada frasco. Adicionar 40 ul de solução de odorante sobre um papel de filtro, e 40 ul de solvente correspondente sobre o segundo papel de filtro. </li><li> Apresente dez 4-9 moscas dias de idade para o frasco &quot;carregamento&quot;. Não use dois anestesia CO durante esta transferência, uma vez que tem um forte efeito sobre o comportamento 10. Prefere usar breve resfriamento em gelo. Manipulação adequada de moscas anestesiados é importante limitar o estresse sobre os assuntos, tanto quanto possível. <ol><li> Realizar uma série de testes de Y-maze, a 25 ° C sob luz vermelha distante (usando lâmpadas LED para limitar possível fonte de aquecimento) para evitar estímulos visuais, tanto quanto possível. Tenha o cuidado de alternar as orientações dos Y labirintos (odorante contendo tubo à esquerda, ou à direita, e tubo de carga na frente ou na parte de trás; Figura 1C). </li><li> Permitir várias horas para as moscas a entrar na armadilha frasco contendo o odorante ou o solvente. Contagem moscas após 24 horas para aumentar a participatina-se a mais de 80% e fornecer o valor máximo do índice olfactiva (Simonnet, comunicação pessoal). </li><li> Calcular o índice olfactiva resultante utilizando a seguinte fórmula: (número no tubo odor - número no tubo de solvente) / número total de moscas carregados. </li></ol></li><li> Wash Y-maze set-up da seguinte forma: mergulhe a desmantelado set-up na RBS 35 MD durante a noite. Lave bem com água da torneira. Lavar com água deionizada e deixar secar. </li></ol> 3. Análise estatística dos dados <ol><li> Realizar um teste t, um one-way ANOVA ou ANOVA de duas vias, dependendo dos dados e variáveis. </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Mombaerts, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genes+and+ligands+for+odorant,+vomeronasal+and+taste+receptors.">Genes and ligands for odorant, vomeronasal and taste receptors.</a> Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 5, 263-278 (2004).</li><li>Silbering, A. F., Benton, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ionotropic+and+metabotropic+mechanisms+in+chemoreception:+'chance+or+design.">Ionotropic and metabotropic mechanisms in chemoreception: 'chance or design.</a> EMBO Rep. 11, 173-179 (2010).</li><li>Ziegler, A. B., Berthelot-Grosjean, M., Grosjean, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+smell+of+love+in+Drosophila.">The smell of love in Drosophila.</a> Front. Physiol. 4, (2013).</li><li>Silbering, A. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Complementary+function+and+integrated+wiring+of+the+evolutionarily+distinct+Drosophila+olfactory+subsystems.">Complementary function and integrated wiring of the evolutionarily distinct Drosophila olfactory subsystems.</a> J. Neurosci. 31, 13357-13375 (2011).</li><li>Grosjean, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+olfactory+receptor+for+food-derived+odours+promotes+male+courtship+in+Drosophila.">An olfactory receptor for food-derived odours promotes male courtship in Drosophila.</a> Nature. 478, 236-240 (2011).</li><li>Woodard, C., Huang, T., Sun, H., Helfand, S. L., Carlson, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+analysis+of+olfactory+behavior+in+Drosophila:+a+new+screen+yields+the+ota+mutants.">Genetic analysis of olfactory behavior in Drosophila: a new screen yields the ota mutants.</a> Genetics. 123, 315-326 (1989).</li><li>Semmelhack, J. L., Wang, J. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Select+Drosophila+glomeruli+mediate+innate+olfactory+attraction+and+aversion.">Select Drosophila glomeruli mediate innate olfactory attraction and aversion.</a> Nature. 459, 218-223 (2009).</li><li>Budick, S. A., Dickinson, M. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Free-flight+responses+of+Drosophila+melanogaster+to+attractive+odors.">Free-flight responses of Drosophila melanogaster to attractive odors.</a> The Journal of Experimental Biology. 209, 3001-3017 (2006).</li><li>Martin, F., Charro, M. J., Alcorta, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mutations+affecting+the+cAMP+transduction+pathway+modify+olfaction+in+Drosophila.">Mutations affecting the cAMP transduction pathway modify olfaction in Drosophila.</a> J. Comp. Physiol. A. 187, 359-370 (2001).</li><li>Barron, A. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anaesthetising+Drosophila+for+behavioural+studies.">Anaesthetising Drosophila for behavioural studies.</a> Journal of Insect Physiology. 46, 439-442 (2000).</li><li>Ai, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Acid+sensing+by+the+Drosophila+olfactory+system.">Acid sensing by the Drosophila olfactory system.</a> Nature. 468, 691-695 (2010).</li><li>Becher, P. G., Bengtsson, M., Hansson, B. S., Witzgall, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Flying+the+fly:+long-range+flight+behavior+of+Drosophila+melanogaster+to+attractive+odors.">Flying the fly: long-range flight behavior of Drosophila melanogaster to attractive odors.</a> J. Chem. Ecol. 36, 599-607 (2010).</li></ol>

Os autores não têm nada a revelar.

Nosso protocolo Y-maze baseia-se num protocolo anteriormente descrito 9. No entanto, apresentamos duas grandes diferenças. Primeiro, usamos pontas de pipeta estreitas para evitar que as moscas de retornar uma vez que eles decidem entrar no frasco que contém o solvente ou o solvente mais o odorante. Estas pontas estreitas também são úteis para limitar a difusão odorante no Y-labirinto. Em segundo lugar, nós usamos um frasco menor carga para forçar as moscas para entrar no Y-labirinto. É importante ter...

Quimiorecepção através de gosto ou olfato é uma modalidade sensorial chave para a sobrevivência animal. Dá sinais vitais necessários para a detecção de um perigo ou fontes de alimentos, bem como para as interacções sociais. Ela também ajuda os animais a encontrar um parceiro necessário sexo para a sua reprodução. Por mais de 20 anos, a pesquisa intensiva, incluindo Nobel premiado trabalho de Richard Axel e Linda Buck, em 2004, &quot;por suas descobertas de receptores olfativos ea organização do sistema olfativo&quot;, foi realizado para revelar as bases moleculares e celulares da olfato 1,2. Um dos modelos animais favoritos para os cientistas para dissecar percepção olfativa é D. melanogaster. Este inseto compartilha uma estratégia de codificação odor-celular e molecular semelhante com mamíferos. A comunidade científica utiliza diversos paradigmas comportamentais para estudar o papel dos odores nesta mosca da fruta. Estes ensaios incluem ensaios multimodais, tais como courtshitestes p onde várias modalidades sensoriais, incluindo o olfato, são importantes para suscitar namoro masculino 3. Outros ensaios também foram desenvolvidos para lidar com o papel de odores mais especificamente; estes incluem t-labirintos, Y labirintos, ensaios de armadilha, arenas de quatro de campo e vento túneis 4.5.6.7.8. Neste artigo apresentamos um ensaio simples modificado Y-labirinto, que fornece respostas olfativas robustas usando D. melanogaster. O nosso set-up usa finais dicas em contrário a um método previamente descrito 9. Assim, o nosso Y-maze tem duas vantagens. Primeiro, ele evita qualquer retorno no sistema uma vez que a mosca fez sua escolha. Em segundo lugar, limita a troca de odores em todas as áreas do Y-labirinto. Esta última vantagem é importante uma vez que a Drosophila são muito sensíveis ao fluxo de ar, que é muitas vezes utilizado para evitar a saturação do odorante. Para ajustar o set-up experimental com um fluxo de ar seria o tempo eo custo de consumir. Por isso, o nosso ensaio de labirinto Y-representa um efciente e maneira rápida de testar o desempenho olfativo de Drosophila.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="835">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Drosophila Polystyrene tube</td>
			<td>VWR europe</td>
			<td>734-2255</td>
			<td>30 x 25 mm&#160; 
			Y-maze</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Drosophila Borosilicate tube</td>
			<td>Dijon verre</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>95 X 25 mm 
			Y-maze</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Foam stopper</td>
			<td>Dutscher</td>
			<td>999038</td>
			<td> 
			Y-maze</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Y-shaped connector</td>
			<td>Europrix</td>
			<td>11020605</td>
			<td> 
			Y-maze</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100-1000&#181;l pipet tips</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>4868</td>
			<td>Join the following pipet tips to the Y-shaped connector. Cut 2 pipet tips at 65 mm from the wide end, and connect the narrow end (with a &#8764;2 mm opening) to 2 test vials. These openings will limit the U-turns once the flies enter the tubes containing the odors. Cut 1 pipet tip at 35 mm from the wide end, and connect it to the loading vial. 
			Y-maze</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Far-Red LED Bulb</td>
			<td>Rubin-Lacaque</td>
			<td>0RB180238</td>
			<td>625-630 nm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetic Acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>45725</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phenylacetic Acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P16621</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Yeast</td>
			<td>Sensient Flavors Strasbourg</td>
			<td>1018880464</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cornmeal</td>
			<td>eurogerm</td>
			<td>Farine de ma&#239;s</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Agar</td>
			<td>Kalys</td>
			<td>HP-697-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methyl hydroxy 4 benzoate</td>
			<td>VWR international</td>
			<td>25605293</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

testing drosophila olfaction with a y-maze assay

A detecção de sinais a partir do ambiente é essencial para animais para garantir a sua sobrevivência. Para este fim, eles usam estímulos ambientais, tais como a visão, mechanoreception, audição e chemoperception através de gosto, através de contato direto ou através do olfato, que representa a resposta a uma molécula volátil atuando em uma escala mais longa. Moléculas químicas voláteis são sinais muito importantes para a maioria dos animais na detecção de perigo, de uma fonte de alimentação, ou para comunicação entre indivíduos. Drosophila melanogaster é um dos modelos biológicos mais comuns para os cientistas a explorar a base molecular e celular do olfacto. A fim de destacar as habilidades olfativas deste pequeno inseto, nós descrevemos um protocolo escolha modificado com base no teste Y-maze classicamente utilizada com camundongos. Dados obtidos com Y labirintos dar informações valiosas para entender melhor como os animais lidar com seu ambiente perpetuamente mudando. Introduzimos um protocolo passo-a-passo para estudar oimpacto de odores sobre a resposta exploratória mosca com este ensaio Y-labirinto.

A Figura 1D mostra dois respostas representativas utilizando este ensaio Y-labirinto. Canton-S machos evitar fortemente a 10% de ácido acético diluído, em água destilada, enquanto eles não evitar significativamente o ácido fenilacético 10%. Estes ensaios são baseados em 10 machos por repetição colocados juntos nos frascos de carregamento. Este protocolo pode levar a grande erro padrão da média. Se necessário, é possível reduzir este inconveniente, usando 20 machos por repetições em vez ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Testing Drosophila Olfaction with a Y-maze Assay at JoVE.com

Testing Drosophila Olfaction with a Y-maze Assay

Apresenta-se um teste de escolha para revelar a influência de odorantes sobre o comportamento de Drosophila, utilizando um ensaio de Y-labirinto.

Prova<em&gt; Drosophila</em&gt; Olfaction com um Ensaio Y-maze

Detecting signals from the environment is essential for animals to ensure their survival. To this aim, they use environmental cues such as vision, ...

testing-drosophila-olfaction-with-a-y-maze-assay

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Testing Drosophila Olfaction with a Y-maze Assay

14.7K visualizações.  UMR-6265 CNRS.  Apresenta-se um teste de escolha para revelar a influência de odorantes sobre o comportamento de Drosophila, utilizando um ensaio de Y-labirinto. 

Vídeo: Testing Drosophila Olfaction with a Y-maze Assay

Paired Nanoinjection and Electrophysiology Assay to Screen for Bioactivity of Compounds using the Drosophila melanogaster Giant Fiber System

Screening compounds for in vivo activity can be used as a first step to identify candidates that may be developed into pharmacological agents1,2. We developed a novel nanoinjection/electrophysiology assay that allows the detection of bioactive modulatory effects of compounds on the function of a neuronal circuit that mediates the escape response in Drosophila melanogaster3,4. Our in vivo assay, which uses the Drosophila Giant Fiber System (GFS, Figure 1) allows screening of different types of compounds, such as small molecules or peptides, and requires only minimal quantities to elicit an effect. In addition, the Drosophila GFS offers a large variety of potential molecular targets on neurons or muscles. The Giant Fibers (GFs) synapse electrically (Gap Junctions) as well as chemically (cholinergic) onto a Peripheral Synapsing Interneuron (PSI) and the Tergo Trochanteral Muscle neuron (TTMn)5. The PSI to DLMn (Dorsal Longitudinal Muscle neuron) connection is dependent on D&alpha;7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)6. Finally, the neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) of the TTMn and the DLMn with the jump (TTM) and flight muscles (DLM) are glutamatergic7-12. Here, we demonstrate how to inject nanoliter quantities of a compound, while obtaining electrophysiological intracellular recordings from the Giant Fiber System13 and how to monitor the effects of the compound on the function of this circuit. We show specificity of the assay with methyllycaconitine citrate (MLA), a nAChR antagonist, which disrupts the PSI to DLMn connection but not the GF to TTMn connection or the function of the NMJ at the jump or flight muscles.
Before beginning this video it is critical that you carefully watch and become familiar with the JoVE video titled "Electrophysiological Recordings from the Giant Fiber Pathway of D. melanogaster " from Augustin et al7, as the video presented here is intended as an expansion to this existing technique. Here we use the electrophysiological recordings method and focus in detail only on the addition of the paired nanoinjections and monitoring technique.

Paired Nanoinjection and Electrophysiology Assay to Screen for Bioactivity of Compounds using the Drosophila melanogaster Giant Fiber System

A rapid in vivo assay to test for neuromodulatory compounds using the Giant Fiber System (GFS) of Drosophila melanogaster is described. Nanoinjections in the head of the animal along with electrophysiological recordings of the GFS can reveal bioactivity of compounds on neurons or muscles.

Nanoinjection emparelhado e Eletrofisiologia Ensaio para a tela de bioatividade dos compostos utilizando os Drosophila melanogaster Sistema Fibra Gigante

Screening compounds for in vivo activity can be used as a first step to identify candidates that may be developed into pharmacological agents1,2. We ...

Neurociência

Methods to Assay Drosophila Behavior

Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly, has been used to study molecular mechanisms of a wide range of human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and various neurological diseases1. We have optimized simple and robust behavioral assays for determining larval locomotion, adult climbing ability (RING assay), and courtship behaviors of Drosophila. These behavioral assays are widely applicable for studying the role of genetic and environmental factors on fly behavior. Larval crawling ability can be reliably used for determining early stage changes in the crawling abilities of Drosophila larvae and also for examining effect of drugs or human disease genes (in transgenic flies) on their locomotion. The larval crawling assay becomes more applicable if expression or abolition of a gene causes lethality in pupal or adult stages, as these flies do not survive to adulthood where they otherwise could be assessed. This basic assay can also be used in conjunction with bright light or stress to examine additional behavioral responses in Drosophila larvae. Courtship behavior has been widely used to investigate genetic basis of sexual behavior, and can also be used to examine activity and coordination, as well as learning and memory. Drosophila courtship behavior involves the exchange of various sensory stimuli including visual, auditory, and chemosensory signals between males and females that lead to a complex series of well characterized motor behaviors culminating in successful copulation. Traditional adult climbing assays (negative geotaxis) are tedious, labor intensive, and time consuming, with significant variation between different trials2-4. The rapid iterative negative geotaxis (RING) assay5 has many advantages over more widely employed protocols, providing a reproducible, sensitive, and high throughput approach to quantify adult locomotor and negative geotaxis behaviors. In the RING assay, several genotypes or drug treatments can be tested simultaneously using large number of animals, with the high-throughput approach making it more amenable for screening experiments.

Methods to Assay Drosophila Behavior

Drosophila melanogaster is a genetically and behaviorally tractable model system that has been used to understand the molecular and cellular basis of many important biological processes for over a century 1. Drosophila has been well exploited to gain insights into the genetic basis of fly behavior.

Métodos de Ensaio para Drosophila Comportamento

Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly, has been used to study molecular mechanisms of a wide range of human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular ...

A Single-fly Assay for Foraging Behavior in Drosophila

For many animals, hunger promotes changes in the olfactory system in a manner that facilitates the search for appropriate food sources. In this video article, we describe an automated assay to measure the effect of hunger or satiety on olfactory dependent food search behavior in the adult fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In a light-tight box illuminated by red light that is invisible to fruit flies, a camera linked to custom data acquisition software monitors the position of six flies simultaneously. Each fly is confined to walk in individual arenas containing a food odor at the center. The testing arenas rest on a porous floor that functions to prevent odor accumulation. Latency to locate the odor source, a metric that reflects olfactory sensitivity under different physiological states, is determined by software analysis. Here, we discuss the critical mechanics of running this behavioral paradigm and cover specific issues regarding fly loading, odor contamination, assay temperature, data quality, and statistical analysis.

A Single-fly Assay for Foraging Behavior in Drosophila

In this video article, we describe an automated assay to measure the effect of hunger or satiety on olfactory dependent food search behavior in the adult fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

A Single-fly Ensaio para comportamento de forrageamento em<em&gt; Drosophila</em

For many animals, hunger promotes changes in the olfactory system in a manner that facilitates the search for appropriate food sources. In this video ...

A Simple Behavioral Assay for Testing Visual Function in Xenopus laevis

Measurement of the visual function in the tadpoles of the frog, Xenopus laevis, allows screening for blindness in live animals. The optokinetic response is a vision-based, reflexive behavior that has been observed in all vertebrates tested. Tadpole eyes are small so the tail flip response was used as alternative measure, which requires a trained technician to record the subtle response. We developed an alternative behavior assay based on the fact that tadpoles prefer to swim on the white side of a tank when placed in a tank with both black and white sides. The assay presented here is an inexpensive, simple alternative that creates a response that is easily measured. The setup consists of a tripod, webcam and nested testing tanks, readily available in most Xenopus laboratories. This article includes a movie showing the behavior of tadpoles, before and after severing the optic nerve. In order to test the function of one eye, we also include representative results of a tadpole in which each eye underwent retinal axotomy on consecutive days. Future studies could develop an automated version of this assay for testing the vision of many tadpoles at once.

A Simple Behavioral Assay for Testing Visual Function in Xenopus laevis

Xenopus laevis tadpoles prefer swimming on the white side of a black/white tank. This behavior is guided by their vision. Based on this behavior, we present a simple assay to test the visual function of tadpoles.

Um Ensaio Comportamental simples para Teste de Função Visual em<em&gt; Xenopus laevis</em

Measurement of the visual function in the tadpoles of the frog, Xenopus laevis, allows screening for blindness in live animals. The optokinetic response ...

Live Imaging of Drosophila Larval Neuroblasts

Stem cells divide asymmetrically to generate two progeny cells with unequal fate potential: a self-renewing stem cell and a differentiating cell. Given their relevance to development and disease, understanding the mechanisms that govern asymmetric stem cell division has been a robust area of study. Because they are genetically tractable and undergo successive rounds of cell division about once every hour, the stem cells of the Drosophila central nervous system, or neuroblasts, are indispensable models for the study of stem cell division. About 100 neural stem cells are located near the surface of each of the two larval brain lobes, making this model system particularly useful for live imaging microscopy studies. In this work, we review several approaches widely used to visualize stem cell divisions, and we address the relative advantages and disadvantages of those techniques that employ dissociated versus intact brain tissues. We also detail our simplified protocol used to explant whole brains from third instar larvae for live cell imaging and fixed analysis applications.

Live Imaging of Drosophila Larval Neuroblasts

This protocol details a streamlined method used to conduct live cell imaging in the context of an intact larval brain. Live cell imaging approaches are invaluable for the study of asymmetric neural stem cell divisions as well as other neurogenic and developmental processes, consistently uncovering mechanisms that were previously overlooked.

Imagens ao vivo de<em&gt; Drosophila</em&gt; larval Neuroblastos

Stem cells divide asymmetrically to generate two progeny cells with unequal fate potential: a self-renewing stem cell and a differentiating cell. Given ...

Straightforward Assay for Quantification of Social Avoidance in Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster is an emerging model to study different aspects of social interactions. For example, flies avoid areas previously occupied by stressed conspecifics due to an odorant released during stress known as the Drosophila stress odorant (dSO). Through the use of the T-maze apparatus, one can quantify the avoidance of the dSO by responder flies in a very affordable and robust assay. Conditions necessary to obtain a strong performance are presented here. A stressful experience is necessary for the flies to emit dSO, as well as enough emitter flies to cause a robust avoidance response to the presence of dSO. Genetic background, but not their group size, strongly altered the avoidance of the dSO by the responder flies. Canton-S and Elwood display a higher performance in avoiding the dSO than Oregon and Samarkand strains. This behavioral assay will allow identification of mechanisms underlying this social behavior, and the assessment of the influence of genes and environmental conditions on both emission and avoidance of the dSO. Such an assay can be included in batteries of simple diagnostic tests used to identify social deficiencies of mutants or environmental conditions of interest.

Straightforward Assay for Quantification of Social Avoidance in Drosophila melanogaster

Here, we present a protocol to quantify the avoidance of stressed individuals. This paradigm is powerful yet user-friendly and can be used to assess the influence of genes and environment on one kind of social interaction in Drosophila melanogaster.

Ensaio simples para Quantificação de Prevenção Social<em&gt; Drosophila melanogaster</em

Drosophila melanogaster is an emerging model to study different aspects of social interactions. For example, flies avoid areas previously occupied by ...

A Behavioral Assay for Mechanosensation of MARCM-based Clones in Drosophila melanogaster

Because of the structural and functional homology to the hair cells of the mammalian inner ear, the neurons that innervate the Drosophila external sense organs provide an excellent model system for the study of mechanosensation. This protocol describes a simple touch behavior in fruit flies which can be used to identify mutations that interfere with mechanosensation. The tactile stimulation of a macrochaete bristle on the thorax of flies elicits a grooming reflex from either the first or third leg. Mutations that interfere with mechanotransduction (such as NOMPC), or with other aspects of the reflex arc, can inhibit the grooming response. A traditional screen of adult behaviors would have missed mutants that have essential roles during development. Instead, this protocol combines the touch screen with mosaic analysis with a repressible cell marker (MARCM) to allow for only limited regions of homozygous mutant cells to be generated and marked by the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP). By testing MARCM clones for abnormal behavioral responses, it is possible to screen a collection of lethal p-element mutations to search for new genes involved in mechanosensation that would have been missed by more traditional methods.

A Behavioral Assay for Mechanosensation of MARCM-based Clones in Drosophila melanogaster

In order to identify novel mutations affecting mechanosensation, we designed an assay that measures the behavioral response to tactile stimulation of fly bristles in mutant clones generated by the MARCM method. The combination of techniques allows for the identification of mechanosensitive mutations that would otherwise be lethal.

Clones em um ensaio comportamental para Mechanosensation de MarcM baseada em<em&gt; Drosophila melanogaster</em

Because of the structural and functional homology to the hair cells of the mammalian inner ear, the neurons that innervate the Drosophila external sense ...

Taste Preference Assay for Adult Drosophila

Olfactory and gustatory perception of the environment is vital for animal survival. The most obvious application of these chemosenses is to be able to distinguish good food sources from potentially dangerous food sources. Gustation requires physical contact with a chemical compound which is able to signal through taste receptors that are expressed on the surface of neurons. In insects, these gustatory neurons can be located across the animal's body allowing taste to play an important role in many different behaviors. Insects typically prefer compounds containing sugars, while compounds that are considered bitter tasting are avoided. Given the basic biological importance of taste, there is intense interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying this sensory modality. We describe an adult Drosophila taste assay which reflects the preference of the animals for a given tastant compound. This assay may be applied to animals of any genetic background to examine the taste preference for a desired soluble compound.

Taste Preference Assay for Adult Drosophila

Taste is an important sensory process which facilitates attraction to beneficial substances and avoidance of toxic substances. This protocol describes a simple ingestion assay for determining Drosophila gustatory preference for a given chemical compound.

Ensaio de Preferência gosto para Adulto<em&gt; Drosophila</em

Olfactory and gustatory perception of the environment is vital for animal survival.  The most obvious application of these chemosenses is to be able to ...

The CApillary FEeder Assay Measures Food Intake in Drosophila melanogaster

For most animals, feeding is an essential behavior for securing survival, and it influences development, locomotion, health and reproduction. Ingestion of the right type and quantity of food therefore has a major influence on quality of life. Research on feeding behavior focuses on the underlying processes that ensure actual feeding and unravels the role of factors regulating internal energy homeostasis and the neuronal bases of decision-making. The model organism Drosophila melanogaster, with its great variety of genetically traceable tools for labeling and manipulating single neurons, allows mapping of neuronal networks and identification of molecular signaling cascades involved in the regulation of food intake. This report demonstrates the CApillary FEeder assay (CAFE) and shows how to measure food intake in a group of flies for time spans ranging from hours to days. This easy-to-use assay consists of glass capillaries filled with liquid food that flies can freely access and feed on. Food consumption in the assay is accurately determined using simple measurement tools. Herein we describe step-by-step the method from setup to successful execution of the CAFE assay, and provide practical examples to analyze the food intake of a group of flies under controlled conditions. The reader is guided through possible limitations of the assay, and advantages and disadvantages of the method compared to other feeding assays in D. melanogaster are evaluated.

The CApillary FEeder Assay Measures Food Intake in Drosophila melanogaster

The CApillary FEeder (CAFE) assay is a simple, budget-friendly, highly reliable method for investigating mechanisms underlying food intake. Used with the highly versatile genetic model organism Drosophila melanogaster, it provides a powerful means of gaining new insights into regulatory mechanisms of food intake.

O capilar alimentador ensaio mede ingestão alimentar em<em&gt; Drosophila melanogaster</em

For most animals, feeding is an essential behavior for securing survival, and it influences development, locomotion, health and reproduction. Ingestion of ...

Novel Assay for Cold Nociception in Drosophila Larvae

How organisms sense and respond to noxious temperatures is still poorly understood. Further, the mechanisms underlying sensitization of the sensory machinery, such as in patients experiencing peripheral neuropathy or injury-induced sensitization, are not well characterized. The genetically tractable Drosophila model has been used to study the cells and genes required for noxious heat detection, which has yielded multiple conserved genes of interest. Little is known however about the cells and receptors important for noxious cold sensing. Although, Drosophila does not survive prolonged exposure to cold temperatures (&#8804;10 &#186;C), and will avoid cool, preferring warmer temperatures in behavioral preference assays, how they sense and possibly avoid noxious cold stimuli has only recently been investigated.
Here we describe and characterize the first noxious cold (&#8804;10 &#186;C) behavioral assay in Drosophila. Using this tool and assay, we show an investigator how to qualitatively and quantitatively assess cold nociceptive behaviors. This can be done under normal/healthy culture conditions, or presumably in the context of disease, injury or sensitization. Further, this assay can be applied to larvae selected for desired genotypes, which might impact thermosensation, pain, or nociceptive sensitization. Given that pain is a highly conserved process, using this assay to further study&#160;thermal nociception will likely glean important understanding of pain processes in other species, including vertebrates.

Novel Assay for Cold Nociception in Drosophila Larvae

Here we demonstrate a novel assay to study cold nociception in Drosophila larvae. This assay utilizes a custom-built Peltier probe capable of applying a focal noxious cold stimulus and results in quantifiable cold-specific behaviors. This technique will allow further cellular and molecular dissection of cold nociception.

Romance Ensaio para Fria nocicepção em<em&gt; Drosophila</em&gt; Larvas

How organisms sense and respond to noxious temperatures is still poorly understood. Further, the mechanisms underlying sensitization of the sensory ...