Electrophysiological Recording from <em>Drosophila</em> Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants of Low Volatility

Renny Ng; Hui-Hao Lin; Jing W. Wang; Chih-Ying Su

doi:10.3791/56147

Electrophysiological Recording from Drosophila Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants...

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Electrophysiological Recording from Drosophila Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants of Low Volatility

Electrophysiological Recording from Drosophila Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants of Low Volatility

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07:49 min

July 27, 2017

DOI: 10.3791/56147-v

Renny Ng¹, Hui-Hao Lin¹, Jing W. Wang¹, Chih-Ying Su¹

¹Division of Biological Sciences,University of California San Diego

Overview

This article presents a protocol for delivering low-volatility odorants to Drosophila olfactory receptor neurons during single-sensillum recordings. By using this method, researchers can investigate the response of these neurons to long-chain cuticular pheromones, enhancing our understanding of insect pheromone communication.

Key Study Components

Area of Science

Neuroscience
Electrophysiology
Insect Behavior

Background

Single-sensillum recordings allow for the study of individual olfactory receptor neurons.
Drosophila serves as a model organism to explore pheromone detection.
Low-volatility odorants pose challenges for effective presentation during recordings.
The developed technique aims to improve odorant delivery and neuronal response assessment.

Purpose of Study

To establish a reliable method for presenting low-volatility odorants to Drosophila olfactory neurons.
To facilitate the investigation of neuronal responses to specific pheromones.
To enhance knowledge of insect olfaction mechanisms.

Methods Used

Single-sensillum recordings were conducted on Drosophila olfactory receptor neurons.
The protocol included detailed steps for preparing odor delivery cartridges and fly preparations.
Electrophysiological recordings focused on the response of neurons to different concentrations of palmitoleic acid.
Emphasis was placed on careful positioning of the odor cartridge relative to the fly's antenna.
Recordings were taken at varying distances to assess effective stimulus delivery.

Main Results

Consistency in cartridge positioning significantly affected neuronal response rates.
Effective presentation of palmitoleic acid from 4mm distance led to increased neuronal spikes, while 11mm distance resulted in minimal responses.
The technique demonstrated that trans-palmitoleic acid was a stronger stimulant than its cis form for Or47b neurons.

Conclusions

This study establishes an effective method for presenting low-volatility pheromones to olfactory neurons.
The findings advance the understanding of mechanisms involved in the detection of pheromones in insects.
By mastering this technique, researchers can explore underlying neurophysiological processes in olfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the advantage of using Drosophila for sensory studies?

Drosophila is a powerful model organism for studying olfactory systems due to its well-mapped genome and defined neuronal pathways, making it easier to understand nervous system function.

How is the odorant presentation implemented?

Odorants are delivered via specialized cartridges positioned closely to the Drosophila antenna, allowing for the effective stimulation of olfactory neurons.

What outcomes can be measured using this method?

The method allows for the measurement of neuronal responses in terms of spike rates and can highlight differences in response to various pheromone concentrations.

How can this method be adapted for other low-volatility compounds?

The cartridge preparation procedure can be modified to suit different low-volatility odorants, allowing diverse chemical studies in Drosophila olfaction.

What are key limitations to consider with this technique?

Precision in positioning the odorant cartridge is critical; inaccuracies can lead to inconsistent results in neuronal spike response, which may affect data reliability.

The overall goal of this protocol is to demonstrate how to present odorants of low volatility for single-sensillum recording from Drosophila olfactory receptor neurons that respond to long-chain cuticular pheromones.

The overall goal of this technique is to present odorants of low volatility effectively to olfactory receptor neurons and drosophila for electrophysiological recording. Those neurons are housed in the trichoid sensilla and respond to long chain cuticular pheromones. This method can help answer key questions in the field of insect pheromone communication by providing an improved odor delivery technique.

The main advantage of this technique is that it allows odorants which were previously inaccessible due to their low volatility to be effectively presented during in vivo recording. Specifically, pheromones are presented from close distances that simulate the range between courting males and target females. The preparation of the odor delivery cartridge component for AT4 recordings begins with removing 0.9 centimeters from the narrow end of a 200-microliter pipette tip.

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