An Explant System for Time-Lapse Imaging Studies of Olfactory Circuit Assembly in Drosophila

J Vis Exp. 2021 Oct 13:(176):10.3791/62983. doi: 10.3791/62983.

Abstract

~Neurons are precisely interconnected to form circuits essential for the proper function of the brain. The Drosophila olfactory system provides an excellent model to investigate this process since 50 types of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) from the antennae and maxillary palps project their axons to 50 identifiable glomeruli in the antennal lobe and form synaptic connections with dendrites from 50 types of second-order projection neurons (PNs). Previous studies mainly focused on identifying important molecules that regulate the precise targeting in the olfactory circuit using fixed tissues. Here, an antennae-brain explant system that recapitulates key developmental milestones of olfactory circuit assembly in culture is described. Through dissecting the external cuticle and cleaning opaque fat bodies covering the developing pupal brain, high quality images of single neurons from live brains can be collected using two-photon microscopy. This allows time-lapse imaging of single ORN axon targeting from live tissue. This approach will help reveal important cell biological contexts and functions of previously identified important genes and identify mechanisms underpinning the dynamic process of circuit assembly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / physiology
  • Drosophila / physiology
  • Drosophila Proteins* / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / physiology
  • Olfactory Pathways / physiology
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons* / physiology
  • Smell / physiology
  • Time-Lapse Imaging

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins