The role of sensory feedback during the development of motor circuits in Drosophila larvae

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23300114
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neuroscience in general
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: NOSE Akinao 東京大学, 新領域創成科学研究科, 教授 (30260037)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 神経可塑性 / ショウジョウバエ / 運動回路 / 臨界期 / 運動感覚フィードバック / 神経回路

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined the effects of eliminating sensory inputs on the development of peristaltic movements of Drosophila embryos and larvae. We found that inhibition of chordotonal organs (chos), but not multidendritic (md) neurons, caused a lasting decrease in the speed of larval locomotion. To narrow down the sensitive period, we applied shorter inhibition at various embryonic and larval stages and found that two-hour inhibition during 16-20 h AEL, but not at earlier or later stages, was sufficient to cause the effect. These results suggest that neural activity mediated by specific sensory neurons is involved in the maturation of the sensorimotor circuits and there is a critical period for this plastic change. Consistent with a role in sensory feedback, chos were activated during larval peristalsis and acute inhibition of chos transmission in the larvae decreased the speed of locomotion.

Free Research Field

脳神経科学・神経科学一般