Figure 5. LNa neurons are a likely source of airflow signals in ventral P-FNs.
(A) Experimental framework. Neurons with tuned airflow responses have recently been identified in the Antler (ATL) and Lateral Accessory Lobe (LAL). We recorded from vFBN (green) and LNa (orange) neurons to assess which input pathway might carry tuned airflow signals. (B) Max projection of the NO region of the SS47432 > UAS-GCaMP6f line used to record LNa calcium activity using tdTomato signal. Imaging ROI, highlighted in orange, is the neurite of one LNa neuron in one hemisphere that connects the LAL and NO. (C) Ventral P-FN airflow tuning is likely inherited from the LAL. Mean firing rate (top two rows) or dF/F (bottom row) as a function of time is plotted for each fly (thin gray lines). Cross-fly mean activity is plotted as thick colored lines. Responses to airflow presented contralaterally (−90°, left column), frontally (0°, middle column), and ipsilaterally (90°, right column) are shown. Directions (ipsi, contra) are relative to the hemisphere of connected ventral P-FN cell bodies. vFBNs responded to airflow, but were not sensitive to airflow direction. LNa neurons showed strong directional tuning for airflow that is sign-inverted with respect to ventral P-FN activity. Blue boxes represent stimulus period (4 s for top two rows, 30 s for bottom row), while dashed lines indicate 0 Hz or dF/F. Darker blue region in the bottom row represents a 10 s period when 10% apple cider vinegar was injected into the airstream (while maintaining constant airflow velocity). Odor did not have a statistically significant impact on LNa activity. Colors as in (A).
Figure 5—figure supplement 1. Trans-tango of VT029515 (vFBN).
