A Low-cost Method for Analyzing Seizure-like Activity and Movement in <em>Drosophila</em>

Abstract

Video tracking systems have been used widely to analyze Drosophila melanogaster movement and detect various abnormalities in locomotive behavior. While these systems can provide a wealth of behavioral information, the cost and complexity of these systems can be prohibitive for many labs. We have developed a low-cost assay for measuring locomotive behavior and seizure movement in D. melanogaster. The system uses a web-cam to capture images that can be processed using a combination of inexpensive and free software to track the distance moved, the average velocity of movement and the duration of movement during a specified time-span. To demonstrate the utility of this system, we examined a group of D. melanogaster mutants, the Bang-sensitive (BS) paralytics, which are 3-10 times more susceptible to seizure-like activity (SLA) than wild type flies. Using this novel system, we were able to detect that the BS mutant bang senseless (bss) exhibits lower levels of exploratory locomotion in a novel environment than wild type flies. In addition, the system was used to identify that the drug metformin, which is commonly used to treat type II diabetes, reduces the intensity of SLA in the BS mutants.

Glial overexpression of Dube3a causes seizures and synaptic impairments in Drosophila concomitant with down regulation of the Na+/K+ pump ATPα

“…To quantify this observation, we performed a series of seizure assays in both repo>Dube3a and elav>Dube3a animals. Utilizing the well-characterized bang sensitivity assay (BSA) (Benzer, 1971, Ganetzky and Wu, 1982, Stone et al, 2014), we subjected flies to mechanical stress and measured time to recovery. Control repo- GAL4 alone or neuronal overexpression elav>Dube3a flies did not display a bang-sensitive phenotype, whereas glial Dube3a overexpression with repo>Dube3a resulted in robust bang-induced paralysis (Fig.…”

“…Drosophila harboring loss-of-function mutations in ATPα have previously shown a bang-sensitive phenotype (Schubiger et al, 1994, Sun et al, 2001, Palladino et al, 2003), and bang-sensitivity is a simple yet robust measure of seizure-like activity in flies (Benzer, 1971, Ganetzky and Wu, 1982, Stone et al, 2014). Here we utilized the GAL4/UAS system (Duffy, 2002) to selectively knockdown ATPα levels in glial cells.…”

“…BSA was performed as previously described (Benzer, 1971, Ganetzky and Wu, 1982, Stone et al, 2014). Flies were transferred via mouth pipette to empty standard fly vials and subjected to mechanical stress (“bang”) by vortexing the vial on a standard laboratory vortexer (LabNet) at top speed for 10 seconds.…”

Investigating Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy Using Drosophila melanogaster

“…In addition, a convenient low-cost method to monitor seizure-like activity of Drosophila has been developed. This method utilizes a web-cam to capture images, which are processed using software to track the distance moved, the average velocity of movement and the duration of movement during a specified time-span [ 89 ].…”

An unbiased drug screen for seizure suppressors in Dup15q syndrome reveals 5HT1Aand dopamine pathway activation as potential therapies

“…For all behavior tests, flies were not exposed to CO2 for at least two days prior to testing to avoid issues related to seizure resistance after exposure to CO2. The bang sensitivity assay (BSA) was performed as previously described (24)(25)(26). Both drug and non-drug (DMSO alone) fed flies were transferred to empty standard fly vials and subjected to mechanical stress ("bang") by vortexing the vial at full speed on a standard laboratory vortexer (LabNet) for 10 seconds.…”