Search results for "Dros"
showing 10 items of 1330 documents
Mutations in spalt cause a severe but reversible neurodegenerative phenotype in the embryonic central nervous system ofDrosophila melanogaster
2002
The gene spalt is expressed in the embryonic central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster but its function in this tissue is still unknown. To investigate this question, we used a combination of techniques to analyse spalt mutant embryos. Electron microscopy showed that in the absence of Spalt, the central nervous system cells are separated by enlarged extracellular spaces populated by membranous material at 60% of embryonic development. Surprisingly, the central nervous system from slightly older embryos (80% of development) exhibited almost wild-type morphology. An extensive survey by laser confocal microscopy revealed that thespalt mutant central nervous system has abnormal levels o…
Expression profiling of prospero in the Drosophila larval chemosensory organ: Between growth and outgrowth
2010
AbstractBackgroundThe antenno-maxilary complex (AMC) forms the chemosensory system of theDrosophilalarva and is involved in gustatory and olfactory perception. We have previously shown that a mutant allele of the homeodomain transcription factor Prospero (prosVoila1,V1), presents several developmental defects including abnormal growth and altered taste responses. In addition, many neural tracts connecting the AMC to the central nervous system (CNS) were affected. Our earlier reports on larval AMC did not argue in favour of a role ofprosin cell fate decision, but strongly suggested thatproscould be involved in the control of other aspect of neuronal development. In order to identify these fu…
A glial amino-acid transporter controls synapse strength and courtship in Drosophila
2008
1097-6256 (Print) Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Mate choice is an evolutionarily critical decision that requires the detection of multiple sex-specific signals followed by central integration of these signals to direct appropriate behavior. The mechanisms controlling mate choice remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the glial amino-acid transporter genderblind controls whether Drosophila melanogaster males will attempt to mate with other males. Genderblind (gb) mutant males showed no alteration in heterosexual courtship or copulation, but were attracted to normally unappealing male species-specific chemosensory cues. As a resul…
Neurosteroidogenesis in Rat Retinas
2002
Neurosteroids (steroids synthesized in the CNS) function by modulating neurotransmission. To establish an experimental model for investigation of neurosteroid synthesis and regulation, independent of blood-borne steroids, we examined the steroidogenic activity of isolated rat retinas. We identified progesterone, pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, desoxycorticosterone, 3 alpha,5 alpha-tetrahydrodesoxycorticosterone, 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and 17-hydroxypregnenolone together with their esterified forms. As pregnenolone is the precursor of all steroids, its formation was studied in detail as an index of a steroid-synthesizing tissue. Pregnenolon…
Neuroblast pattern and identity in the Drosophila tail region and role of doublesex in the survival of sex-specific precursors.
2013
The central nervous system is composed of segmental units (neuromeres), the size and complexity of which evolved in correspondence to their functional requirements. In Drosophila, neuromeres develop from populations of neural stem cells (neuroblasts) that delaminate from the early embryonic neuroectoderm in a stereotyped spatial and temporal pattern. Pattern units closely resemble the ground state and are rather invariant in thoracic (T1-T3) and anterior abdominal (A1-A7) segments of the embryonic ventral nerve cord. Here, we provide a comprehensive neuroblast map of the terminal abdominal neuromeres A8-A10, which exhibit a progressively derived character. Compared with thoracic and anterio…
Induction of identified mesodermal cells by CNS midline progenitors in Drosophila.
1997
ABSTRACT The Drosophila ventral midline cells generate a discrete set of CNS lineages, required for proper patterning of the ventral ectoderm. Here we provide the first evidence that the CNS midline cells also exert inductive effects on the mesoderm. Mesodermal progenitors adjacent to the midline progenitor cells give rise to ventral somatic mucles and a pair of unique cells that come to lie dorsomedially on top of the ventral nerve cord, the so-called DM cells. Cell ablation as well as cell transplantation experiments indicate that formation of the DM cells is induced by midline progenitors in the early embryo. These results are corroborated by genetic analyses. Mutant single minded embryo…
Morphological Characterization of the Entire Interneuron Population Reveals Principles of Neuromere Organization in the Ventral Nerve Cord ofDrosophi…
2011
Decisive contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of the nervous system have been made by studies performed at the level of single, identified cells in the fruit flyDrosophila. While all the motor neurons and glial cells in thoracic and abdominal segments of theDrosophilaembryo have been individually identified, few of the interneurons, which comprise the vast majority of cells in the CNS, have been characterized at this level. We have applied a single cell labeling technique to carry out a detailed morphological characterization of the entire population of interneurons in abdominal segments A1–A7. Based on the definition of a set of spatial parameters…
The commonly used marker ELAV is transiently expressed in neuroblasts and glial cells in theDrosophilaembryonic CNS
2007
Glial cells in the Drosophila embryonic nervous system can be monitored with the marker Reversed-polarity (Repo), whereas neurons lack Repo and express the RNA-binding protein ELAV (Embryonic Lethal, Abnormal Vision). Since the first description of the ELAV protein distribution in 1991 (Robinow and White), it is believed that ELAV is an exclusive neuronal and postmitotic marker. Looking at ELAV expression, we unexpectedly observed that, in addition to neurons, ELAV is transiently expressed in embryonic glial cells. Furthermore, it is transiently present in the proliferating longitudinal glioblast, and it is transcribed in embryonic neuroblasts. Likewise, elav-Gal4 lines, which are generally…
Composition of a Neuromere and Its Segmental Diversification under the Control ofHoxGenes in the Embryonic CNS ofDrosophila
2014
Studies performed at the level of single, identified cells in the fruitfly Drosophila have decisively contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development and function of the nervous system. This review highlights some of the work based on single-cell analyses in the embryonic/larval CNS that sheds light on the principles underlying formation and organization of an entire segmental unit and its divergence along the anterior/posterior body axis.
A common precursor for glia and neurons in the embryonic CNS of Drosophila gives rise to segment-specific lineage variants
1993
ABSTRACT The nervous system consists of two classes of cells, neurons and glia, which differ in morphology and function. They derive from precursors located in the neurogenic region of the ectoderm. In this study, we present the complete embryonic lineage of a neuroectodermal precursor in Drosophila that gives rise to neurons as well as glia in the abdominal CNS. This lineage is conserved among different Drosophila species. We show that neuronal and glial cell types in this clone derive from one segregating precursor, previously described as NB1-1. Thus, in addition to neuroblasts and glioblasts, there exists a third class of CNS precursors in Drosophila, which we call neuroglioblasts. We f…