Validation of an Optogenetic Approach to the Study of Olfactory Behavior in the T-Maze of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Adults
Optogenetics enables the alteration of neural activity using genetically targeted expression of light activated proteins for studying behavioral circuits in several species including <i>Drosophila</i>. The main idea behind this approach is to replace the native behavioral stimulus by the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/8/662 |
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| author | Ruth Coya Fernando Martin Laura Calvin-Cejudo Carolina Gomez-Diaz Esther Alcorta |
| author_facet | Ruth Coya Fernando Martin Laura Calvin-Cejudo Carolina Gomez-Diaz Esther Alcorta |
| author_sort | Ruth Coya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Optogenetics enables the alteration of neural activity using genetically targeted expression of light activated proteins for studying behavioral circuits in several species including <i>Drosophila</i>. The main idea behind this approach is to replace the native behavioral stimulus by the light-induced electrical activation of different points of the circuit. Therefore, its effects on subsequent steps of the circuit or on the final behavior can be analyzed. However, the use of optogenetics to dissect the receptor elements of the adult olfactory behavior presents a challenge due to one additional factor: Most odorants elicit attraction or avoidance depending on their concentration; this complicates the representative replacement of odor activation of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) by light. Here, we explore a dual excitation model where the subject is responding to odors while the OSNs are optogenetically activated. Thereby, we can assess if and how the olfactory behavior is modified. We measure the effects of light excitation on the response to several odorant concentrations. The dose-response curve of these flies still depends on odor concentration but with reduced sensitivity compared to olfactory stimulation alone. These results are consistent with behavioral tests performed with a background odor and suggest an additive effect of light and odor excitation on OSNs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:17:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3531643aa9f74febaf33c6b1d0ba624b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:17:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-3531643aa9f74febaf33c6b1d0ba624b2023-12-03T13:51:09ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-07-0113866210.3390/insects13080662Validation of an Optogenetic Approach to the Study of Olfactory Behavior in the T-Maze of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> AdultsRuth Coya0Fernando Martin1Laura Calvin-Cejudo2Carolina Gomez-Diaz3Esther Alcorta4Department of Functional Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, SpainDepartment of Functional Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, SpainDepartment of Functional Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, SpainDepartment of Functional Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, SpainDepartment of Functional Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, SpainOptogenetics enables the alteration of neural activity using genetically targeted expression of light activated proteins for studying behavioral circuits in several species including <i>Drosophila</i>. The main idea behind this approach is to replace the native behavioral stimulus by the light-induced electrical activation of different points of the circuit. Therefore, its effects on subsequent steps of the circuit or on the final behavior can be analyzed. However, the use of optogenetics to dissect the receptor elements of the adult olfactory behavior presents a challenge due to one additional factor: Most odorants elicit attraction or avoidance depending on their concentration; this complicates the representative replacement of odor activation of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) by light. Here, we explore a dual excitation model where the subject is responding to odors while the OSNs are optogenetically activated. Thereby, we can assess if and how the olfactory behavior is modified. We measure the effects of light excitation on the response to several odorant concentrations. The dose-response curve of these flies still depends on odor concentration but with reduced sensitivity compared to olfactory stimulation alone. These results are consistent with behavioral tests performed with a background odor and suggest an additive effect of light and odor excitation on OSNs.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/8/662behavior<i>Drosophila</i>olfactionoptogenetics |
| spellingShingle | Ruth Coya Fernando Martin Laura Calvin-Cejudo Carolina Gomez-Diaz Esther Alcorta Validation of an Optogenetic Approach to the Study of Olfactory Behavior in the T-Maze of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Adults Insects behavior <i>Drosophila</i> olfaction optogenetics |
| title | Validation of an Optogenetic Approach to the Study of Olfactory Behavior in the T-Maze of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Adults |
| title_full | Validation of an Optogenetic Approach to the Study of Olfactory Behavior in the T-Maze of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Adults |
| title_fullStr | Validation of an Optogenetic Approach to the Study of Olfactory Behavior in the T-Maze of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Validation of an Optogenetic Approach to the Study of Olfactory Behavior in the T-Maze of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Adults |
| title_short | Validation of an Optogenetic Approach to the Study of Olfactory Behavior in the T-Maze of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Adults |
| title_sort | validation of an optogenetic approach to the study of olfactory behavior in the t maze of i drosophila melanogaster i adults |
| topic | behavior <i>Drosophila</i> olfaction optogenetics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/8/662 |
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