Figure 10.

Manipulation of activity in 5-HTergic neurons within adult flies. (a) Acute inhibition of neuromuscular synapse neurotransmission by expressing shi ^ts1 in motor neurons (UAS-shi ^ts1>D42-Gal4) significantly reduced climbing ability in adult female and male flies at restrictive temperature (37°C). This assay served as a proof of concept in the genetic crosses. However, acute blockage of serotonergic synaptic transmission (UAS-shi ^ts1>Trh-Gal4 (III)) did not influence climbing ability in adult flies. Student's t-test was used to compare the climbing ability of the flies at room temperature (22-23°C) with the same flies after incubation in the water bath (37°C). (b1) Locomotion activity was recorded for 10 minutes in UAS-TrpA1 (control) and Trh-Gal4 (III)>UAS-TrpA1, which expressed TrpA1 in 5-HTergic neurons, flies at 37°C. The activity was analyzed for 10 seconds at the 5th minute and 10 seconds at the 10th minute. These two pictures show the locomotion activity of adult male flies (controls), 10 sec of 5th and 10 sec of 10th minute, respectively. (b2) Acute activation of 5-HTergic neurons in freely moving adults significantly reduced the locomotion activity in adult male and female flies. Mann-Whitney rank sum test was used for comparison between the groups. Data represented as mean ± SEM.