Establishment of a digital, three-dimensional model of the Drosophila larval brain, and the identification of behaviourally important central interneurons in defined neuropiles using MARCUM (mosiac analysis with a repressible cell marker).
Published: 2006
Language: eng
Number of pages: 142
ISBN-13: 9780494213643
Description: A series of experiments was designed that allowed us to observe locomotive defects in vivo by randomly shutting down interneurons in the larval central nervous system. The first goal was to expand on pre-existing maps of neuropile compartments. This was achieved with immunohistochemical methods and modelling software. The second goal was to use these anatomical maps to aid the discovery of neurons involved in motor circuitry in the CNS. This was accomplished by using the "Mosaic Analysis with a Repressible Cell Marker" technique on a population of interneurons. A candidate compartment was found in the brain. Neurons supplying this compartment had a higher chance of being labelled with MARCM clones in animals showing locomotion defects. Also, areas in the ventral have also been identified as critical areas in the control of locomotion. These observations indicate specific compartments may be specialized in the motor circuitry of the Drosophila larvae.
Notes: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-03, page: 1394.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2006.

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