Drosophila Courtship Conditioning: A Method to Test Learning and Memory In Flies

Abstract

Source: Koemans, T. S., et al. Drosophila Courtship Conditioning As a Measure of Learning and Memory. J. Vis. Exp. (2017).

This video describes a classical conditioning assay that tests learning and memory in Drosophila, called courtship conditioning. The assay is based on the reduction of male courtship after experiencing a rejection by a non-receptive premated female. The example protocol shows a setup for the procedure that can be used to assess short- and long-term memory.

Protocol

This protocol is an excerpt from Koemans et al., Drosophila Courtship Conditioning As a Measure of Learning and Memory, J. Vis. Exp. (2017).

NOTE: In the protocol outlined below, one replicate of collection, training, and testing is described. In order to test the reproducibility of the results, these steps should be repeated in parallel, on multiple days, and with separate groups of flies (Table 1). The protocol is based on a 10 day life cycle from egg to adult, which is normal when rearing flies under constant conditions of 25 °C, 70% humidity, and a 12 h light....

Results

Figure 1: Determination of the Courtship Index and Experimental Overview. (A) Images showing stereotypical male courtship behavior towards a female fly. Different stages of courtship behavior are shown: orientation (I), followin.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
<em>P{KK101437}VIE-260B</em>	VDRC	101437	Dhat-at-RNAi in 60100 background
<em>P{KK108109}VIE-260B</em>	-	-	Control-RNAi in 60100 background (gift from K. Keleman)
<em>w+, UAS-dcr2/yhh;;elav-Gal4 (III)</em>	-	-	panneuronal driver line
Containers for plant tissue culture	VWR	960177	175 mL plastic vials
Folded filters	Whatman	10311643	Filter paper to enlarge area flies can pupate on
Flat-bottom blocks (96-wells)	Qiagen	19579	Used for housing blocks
MicroAmp Clear Adhesive Film	Applied Biosystems	4306311	PCR adhesive film as lid on flat-bottom blocks
Razor blade	-	-	Any sharp will do
Needle	-	-	0.8 mm diameter
Aspirator	-	-	Cut a 1mL pipet tip with scissors in order to have two pieces. The narrow tip of the pipettip is placed as fly entrance in a ~80 cm flexible hose. To prevent a fly from getting in the hose, a normal piece of cotton or small mesh gaze is placed in between the tip and the hose. The other half of the pipettip can be used as mouth piece at the end of the hose.
Courtship chambers	-	-	file S1 can be opened with indicated CAD software
Camcorder	Sony	-	camera specification: >4M pixels, full HD.
For manual quantification, any simple video recording device has the potential to produce a video of sufficient quality to observe courtship behavior accurately. For automated quantification, there will likely be different requirements depending on the software to be used, and users should investigate this thoroughly if automated quantification is desired.
<strong>Name</strong>	<strong>Company</strong>	<strong>Catalog Number</strong>	<strong>Comments</strong>
power food
Agar	Sigma	A7002
Yeast	Bruggeman	-
Yeast extract	MP biomedicals	0210330391
Peptone	Sigma	P6838
Sucrose	Sigma	S9378
Glucose	Sigma	G7021
MgSO4	Sigma	M2643
CaCl2	Merck	1023780500
Methylparabene (CAUTION)	Sigma	H5501
Propionic acid (CAUTION)	Sigma	P1386
Demineralized water	-
Yeast paste	-		yeast grains and water mixture in a 1:1 ratio
Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
normal food
Agar	MP biomedicals	215017890
Yeast	bruggeman	-
Corn flour	de Molen	-
Sugar	de Molen	-
Methylparabene (CAUTION)	Sigma	H5501
Propionic acid (CAUTION)	Sigma	P1386
Demineralized water	-