Functional characterization of neurons in the Drosophila medulla, which is the first processing center for color vision, using a behavioural assay

使用行为分析对果蝇髓质中的神经元进行功能表征，果蝇髓质是第一个色觉处理中心

• 批准号: 50090501
• 负责人: Dr. Nina Vogt
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Department of Biology
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Fellowships
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2006-12-31 至 2009-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/50090501?language=en
• 关键词: Functional; characterization; neurons; Drosophila; medulla

One of the functions of the eye is the detection of color information in the environment. In Drosophila, the inner photoreceptor cells R7 and R8 are specialized for this task, while the outer photoreceptors R1-R6 are involved in motion detection. R1-R6 project to the outer part of the optic lobe, the lamina, while R7 and R8 target a deeper layer, the medulla. The medulla contains ~20,000 neurons belonging to at least 17 different cell types and is thought to be the main processing center for color vision. However, the function of the individual cell types is still unknown. While the host lab is currently characterizing connectivity in the medulla, and is reconstructing the anatomy of the circuitry, it is important to analyze the function of each cell type. I propose to functionally characterize different classes of medulla neurons by using a color vision behavioral assay that has been established in the host lab, in collaboration with the Heisenberg lab in Würzburg. In order to achieve this goal, I will develop tools that allow me to manipulate neuronal activity exclusively in each particular cell type in the medulla. I will then inhibit individual classes of medulla neurons and test the respective flies for their ability to discriminate between blue and green light in a behavioral assay. The proposed study will add functional data to the anatomical map of the Drosophila medulla and will provide insight into the mechanism of color information processing in the brain.

眼睛的功能之一是检测环境中的颜色信息。在果蝇中，内部感光细胞R7和R8专门负责这项任务，而外部感光细胞R1-R6则参与运动检测。R1-R6突出到视叶的外部，即椎板，而R7和R8则瞄准更深层，即髓质。髓质包含约20，000个神经元，属于至少17种不同的细胞类型，被认为是色觉的主要处理中心。然而，单个细胞类型的功能仍然未知。虽然主机实验室目前正在表征髓质中的连接性，并正在重建电路的解剖结构，但分析每种细胞类型的功能非常重要。我建议功能特性不同类别的髓质神经元，通过使用色觉行为测定，已建立在主机实验室，与海森堡实验室在维尔茨堡合作。为了实现这个目标，我将开发一些工具，使我能够专门操纵髓质中每种特定细胞类型的神经元活动。然后，我将抑制个别类别的髓质神经元，并测试各自的苍蝇在行为分析中区分蓝光和绿色光的能力。这项研究将为果蝇延髓的解剖图增加功能数据，并将深入了解大脑中颜色信息处理的机制。