Whole mount immunolabeling of olfactory receptor neurons in the Drosophila antenna

J Vis Exp. 2014 May 4:(87):51245. doi: 10.3791/51245.

Abstract

Odorant molecules bind to their target receptors in a precise and coordinated manner. Each receptor recognizes a specific signal and relays this information to the brain. As such, determining how olfactory information is transferred to the brain, modifying both perception and behavior, merits investigation. Interestingly, there is emerging evidence that cellular transduction and transcriptional factors are involved in the diversification of olfactory receptor neuron. Here we provide a robust whole mount immunological labeling method to assay in vivo olfactory receptor neuron organization. Using this method, we identified all olfactory receptor neurons with anti-ELAV antibody, a known pan-neural marker and Or49a-mCD8::GFP, an olfactory receptor neuron specifically expressed in Nba neuron using anti-GFP antibody.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthropod Antennae / chemistry*
  • Arthropod Antennae / cytology*
  • Drosophila
  • Immunologic Techniques / methods*
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons / chemistry*
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons / cytology*