@article {1693, title = {Asymmetric ephaptic inhibition between compartmentalized olfactory receptor neurons.}, journal = {Nat Commun}, volume = {10}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 04 05}, pages = {1560}, abstract = {

In the Drosophila antenna, different subtypes of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) housed in the same sensory hair (sensillum) can inhibit each other non-synaptically. However, the mechanisms underlying this underexplored form of lateral inhibition remain unclear. Here we use recordings from pairs of sensilla impaled by the same tungsten electrode to demonstrate that direct electrical ("ephaptic") interactions mediate lateral inhibition between ORNs. Intriguingly, within individual sensilla, we find that ephaptic lateral inhibition is asymmetric such that one ORN exerts greater influence onto its neighbor. Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy of genetically identified ORNs and circuit modeling indicate that asymmetric lateral inhibition reflects a surprisingly simple mechanism: the physically larger ORN in a pair corresponds to the dominant neuron in ephaptic interactions. Thus, morphometric differences between compartmentalized ORNs account for highly specialized inhibitory interactions that govern information processing at the earliest stages of olfactory coding.

}, keywords = {Animals, Drosophila, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Models, Biological, Olfactory Pathways, Olfactory Receptor Neurons, Sensilla, Smell}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-019-09346-z}, author = {Zhang, Ye and Tsang, Tin Ki and Bushong, Eric A and Chu, Li-An and Chiang, Ann-Shyn and Ellisman, Mark H and Reingruber, J{\"u}rgen and Su, Chih-Ying} } @article {149, title = {Salience modulates 20-30 Hz brain activity in Drosophila.}, journal = {Nat Neurosci}, volume = {6}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Jun}, pages = {579-86}, abstract = {

Fruit flies selectively orient toward the visual stimuli that are most salient in their environment. We recorded local field potentials (LFPs) from the brains of Drosophila melanogaster as they responded to the presentation of visual stimuli. Coupling of salience effects (odor, heat or novelty) to these stimuli modulated LFPs in the 20-30 Hz range by evoking a transient, selective increase. We demonstrated the association of these responses with behavioral tracking and initiated a genetic approach to investigating neural correlates of perception.

}, keywords = {Action Potentials, Animals, Attention, Behavior, Animal, Brain, Cues, Drosophila, Drosophila Proteins, Exploratory Behavior, Mutation, Neurons, Orientation, Retina, Smell, Synaptic Transmission, Thermosensing, Visual Pathways, Visual Perception}, issn = {1097-6256}, doi = {10.1038/nn1054}, author = {van Swinderen, Bruno and Greenspan, Ralph J} } @article {154, title = {Genetic feminization of brain structures and changed sexual orientation in male Drosophila.}, journal = {Science}, volume = {267}, year = {1995}, month = {1995 Feb 10}, pages = {902-5}, abstract = {

The neural basis of sexual orientation in Drosophila was studied by the production of males with regionally feminized brains. Such flies express the female form of the sex determination gene transformer in a limited number of neurons under the control of GAL4 enhancer trap inserts. This method facilitated the creation of lines with a stable pattern of feminization. In tests of sexual preferences, flies that were feminized in a portion of the antennal lobes or in a subset of the corpora pedunculata (mushroom bodies) courted both males and females. These two brain structures, both of which are involved in olfactory processing, may function in the recognition of sex-specific pheromones, in the control of sex-specific behaviors, or both.

}, keywords = {Animals, Bisexuality, Brain, Drosophila melanogaster, Female, Genes, Insect, Male, Sex Attractants, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Smell}, issn = {0036-8075}, author = {Ferveur, J F and St{\"o}rtkuhl, K F and Stocker, R F and Greenspan, R J} }