Novel neuronal network underlying Drosophila olfactory learning and memory

果蝇嗅觉厌恶条件反射是解释记忆形成的分子和神经元机制的有力模型系统。我已经设计了一种简单、低成本的半自动空调设备，它可以通过计算控制气味和电击的传递。该系统适用于嗅觉记忆形成的研究和条件反射参数的检测。为了确定果蝇嗅觉记忆的一个新的神经元网络，我进行了Gal4增强子陷阱筛选，并鉴定了一对神经支配到蘑菇体(MB)上的神经元，嗅觉记忆是在MB上编码的。来自已识别神经元的突触传递的瞬时沉默，我们称之为PMO神经元，Shibire^&lt；ts&gt；表明这些神经元特定地参与了(3小时)嗅觉厌恶记忆晚期的形成。它们不是早期(1小时)嗅觉记忆所必需的。这些数据意味着存在一个神经元电路，用于记忆巩固，其功能位于MB下游。

Drosophila olfactory aversive conditioning has served as a powerful model system with which to elucidate the molecular and neuronal mechanisms underlying memory formation. I have devised a simple, low-cost semi-automated conditioning apparatus that computationally controls the delivery of odor and shock. The system is applicable to the study of olfactory memory formation and to the examination of conditioning parameters at a level of detail not practical with a manual apparatus.To identify a novel neuronal network underlying Drosophila olfactory memory, I conducted a Gal4 enhancer-trap screening and identified a pair of neurons innervating onto the mushroom body (MB) in which olfactory memory is encoded. Transient silencing of synaptic transmissions from identified neurons, we call them PMO neurons, with Shibire^<ts> showed that these neurons are specifically involved in the formation of the late stage of (3 hr) olfactory aversive memory. They were not required for the early stage (1 hr) of olfactory memory. These data imply the presence of a neuronal circuit for memory consolidation that function downstream of the MB.