|
Genetic Analysis of the Drosophila Ellipsoid Body Neuropil:
Organization and Development of the Central Complex
|
Susan C.P. Renn1, J. Douglas Armstrong2*, Mingyao Yang2*, Zongsheng Wang2, Xin An2, Kim Kaiser2, Paul H. Taghert1**
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
2Division of Molecular Genetics, Anderson College, University of Glasgow, 56 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow G11 6NU, United Kingdom
Originially published in: J. Neurobiol, 41(2):189-207 in press
*These authors contributed equally to this work
**Correspondence: Paul H. Tagert, taghertp@thalamus.wustl.edu
Contribution to Flybrain provided by Paul H. Tagert
The images are organized as follows: When you click on the
small image number, a bigger version of the published plate is loaded.
Summary
The central complex is an important center for higher-order brain function in insects. It is an intricate neuropil composed of four
substructures. Each substructure contains repeated neuronal elements which are connected by processes such that topography is maintained.
Although the neuronal architecture has been described in several insects and the behavioral role investigated in various experiments, the
exact function of this neuropil has proven elusive. To describe the architecture of the central complex, we study 15 enhancer-trap lines that
label various ellipsoid body neuron types. We find evidence for restriction of gene expression that is correlated with specific neuronal
types: such correlations suggest functional classifications as well. We show that some enhancer-trap patterns reveal a single ellipsoid body
neuron type, while others label multiple types. We describe the development of the ellipsoid body neuropil in wild-type animals and propose
developmental mechanisms based on animals displaying structural mutations of this neuropil. The experiments performed here demonstrate the
degree of resolution possible from the analysis of enhancer-trap lines and form a useful library of tools for future structure/function
studies of the ellipsoid body.
Figure 1 - X-Gal Stained Frontal Sections
Figure 2 - Confocal Microscopy of Adult Brains
Figure 3 - X-GalStained Frontal Cryostat Head Sections
Figure 4 - Histochemical Staining of R4-type eb Neurons
Figure 5 - Enhancer-trap Patterns
Figure 6 - Enhancer-trap Expression Patterns
Figure 7 - Enhancer-trap Patterns that Demonstrate the Subdivision of the R4-type eb
Figure 8 - Enhancer Patterns that Demonstrate Segregation of R Neuron Processes within the ltr.
Figure 9 - Development of the eb.
Figure 10 - Schematic Representation of Selected cc Enhancer-trap Lines
Figure 11 - Analysis of eb R Neuron Structures
Atlas