Activity in descending dopaminergic neurons represents but is not required for leg movements in the fruit fly<i>Drosophila</i>

Tschida, Katherine; Bhandawat, Vikas

doi:10.14814/phy2.12322

Cited by 14 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Some of the remaining 15% of DNs represent small diameter DNs which use minor neurotransmitter and are not labeled. We think that this is unlikely because we have shown in a previous study that small diameter dopaminergic neurons are reliably labeled 52 . Moreover, all the octopaminergic DNs that have been labeled genetically 55 were also identified in our study.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Serotonergic DNs were labeled using Ddc-Gal4 which labels both dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons and labels up to 30 DNs (summed over all clusters). Out of these, 2 DNs located in the GNG have been confirmed to be dopaminergic by performing labeling in TH-Gal4 flies in which only dopaminergic neurons are labeled 52 . Eighteen of the serotonergic DNs are in the SMP cluster and occur in a location similar to serotonergic DNs reported in locust 53 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Organization of descending neurons in Drosophila melanogaster

Hsu

Bhandawat

2016

Sci Rep

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109

145

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Neural processing in the brain controls behavior through descending neurons (DNs) - neurons which carry signals from the brain to the spinal cord (or thoracic ganglia in insects). Because DNs arise from multiple circuits in the brain, the numerical simplicity and availability of genetic tools make Drosophila a tractable model for understanding descending motor control. As a first step towards a comprehensive study of descending motor control, here we estimate the number and distribution of DNs in the Drosophila brain. We labeled DNs by backfilling them with dextran dye applied to the neck connective and estimated that there are ~1100 DNs distributed in 6 clusters in Drosophila. To assess the distribution of DNs by neurotransmitters, we labeled DNs in flies in which neurons expressing the major neurotransmitters were also labeled. We found DNs belonging to every neurotransmitter class we tested: acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate, serotonin, dopamine and octopamine. Both the major excitatory neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) and the major inhibitory neurotransmitter (GABA) are employed equally; this stands in contrast to vertebrate DNs which are predominantly excitatory. By comparing the distribution of DNs in Drosophila to those reported previously in other insects, we conclude that the organization of DNs in insects is highly conserved.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organization of descending neurons in Drosophila melanogaster

Hsu

Bhandawat

2016

Sci Rep

Self Cite

109

145

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“…The authors found that dopaminergic DINs activity correlated with certain leg movements and walking speed. But increasing dopaminergic DINs activity failed to impact on walking (Tschida and Bhandawat, 2015).…”

Section: Monoaminergic Descending Interneurons (Dins) and Descending mentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Taking advantage of the neurogenetics tools available with Drosophila model system, Tschida and Bhandawat (2015) found two dopaminergic DINs in Drosophila GNG and tested whether their activity promotes walking. This investigation was motivated by previous studies in reduced preparations which showed that application of dopamine receptor agonists elicits fictive motor rhythms.…”

Section: Monoaminergic Descending Interneurons (Dins) and Descending mentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Role of the Head Ganglia in Posture and Walking in Insects

et al. 2020

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In insects, locomotion is the result of rhythm generating thoracic circuits and their modulation by sensory reflexes and by inputs from the two head ganglia, the cerebral and the gnathal ganglia (GNG), which act as higher order neuronal centers playing different functions in the initiation, goal-direction, and maintenance of movement. Current knowledge on the various roles of major neuropiles of the cerebral ganglia (CRG), such as mushroom bodies (MB) and the central complex (CX), in particular, are discussed as well as the role of the GNG. Thoracic and head ganglia circuitries are connected by ascending and descending neurons. While less is known about the ascending neurons, recent studies in large insects and Drosophila have begun to unravel the identity of descending neurons and their appropriate roles in posture and locomotion. Descending inputs from the head ganglia are most important in initiating and modulating thoracic central pattern generating circuitries to achieve goal directed locomotion. In addition, the review will also deal with some known monoaminergic descending neurons which affect the motor circuits involved in posture and locomotion. In conclusion, we will present a few issues that have, until today, been little explored. For example, how and which descending neurons are selected to engage a specific motor behavior and how feedback from thoracic circuitry modulate the head ganglia circuitries. The review will discuss results from large insects, mainly locusts, crickets, and stick insects but will mostly focus on cockroaches and the fruit fly, Drosophila.

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“…Recent work revealed that many DNs are able to modify an ongoing walking program (Bidaye et al, 2014;Cande et al, 2018). In addition, the activity of a few DNs has been shown to correlate with locomotor patterns (Chen et al, 2018;Tschida and Bhandawat, 2015). However, it is still unclear if specific brain inputs, both at the level of DNs as well as higher brain areas, are capable of initiating a coordinated walking pattern and how distinct walking initiations are manifested in different behavioral contexts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two brain pathways initiate distinct forward walking programs inDrosophila

Bidaye¹,

Laturney²,

Chang³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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An animal at rest or engaged in stationary behaviors can instantaneously initiate goaldirected walking. How descending brain inputs trigger rapid transitions from a non-walking state to an appropriate walking state is unclear. Here, we identify two specific neuronal classes in the Drosophila brain that drive two distinct forward walking programs in a context-specific manner.The first class, named P9, consists of descending neurons that drive forward walking with ipsilateral turning. P9 receives inputs from central courtship-promoting neurons and visual projection neurons and is necessary for a male to track a female during courtship. The second class comprises novel, higher order neurons, named BPN, that drives straight, forward walking. BPN is required for high velocity walking and is active during long, fast, straight walking bouts. Thus, this study reveals separate brain pathways for object-directed steering and fast straight walking, providing insight into how the brain initiates different walking programs.Raw and processed data along with custom Matlab analysis scripts will be made available upon request. Design files for custom parts will be available upon request.Ache, J.M., Haupt, S.S., and Dürr, V. (2015). A direct descending pathway informing locomotor networks about tactile sensor movement.

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Activity in descending dopaminergic neurons represents but is not required for leg movements in the fruit flyDrosophila

Cited by 14 publications

References 65 publications

Organization of descending neurons in Drosophila melanogaster

Organization of descending neurons in Drosophila melanogaster

On the Role of the Head Ganglia in Posture and Walking in Insects

Two brain pathways initiate distinct forward walking programs inDrosophila

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