Journal article
Localization of choline acetyltransferase-expressing neurons in the larval visual system of Drosophila melanogaster
Cell and tissue research, Vol.282(2), pp.193-202
10/01/1995
DOI: 10.1007/s004410050472
PMID: 8565051
Abstract
Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is the enzyme catalyzing the biosynthesis of acetylcholine and is considered to be a phenotypically specific marker for cholinergic neurons. We have examined the distribution of ChAT-expressing neurons in the larval nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster by three different but complementary techniques: in situ hybridization with a cRNA probe to ChAT messenger RNA, immunocytochemistry using a monoclonal anti-ChAT antibody, and X-gal staining of transformed animals carrying a reporter gene composed of 7.4 kb of 5' flanking DNA from the ChAT gene fused to a lacZ reporter gene. All three techniques demonstrated ChAT-expressing neurons in the larval visual system. In embryos, the photoreceptor organ (Bolwig's organ) exhibited strong cRNA hybridization signals. The optic lobe of late third-instar larvae displayed ChAT immunoreactivity in Bolwig's nerve and a neuron close to the insertion site of the optic stalk. This neuron's axon ran in parallel with Bolwig's nerve to the larval optic neuropil. This neuron is likely to be a first-order interneuron of the larval visual system. Expression of the lacZ reporter gene was also detected in Bolwig's organ and the neuron stained by anti-ChAT antibody. Our observations indicate that acetylcholine may be a neurotransmitter in the larval photoreceptor cells as well as in a first-order interneuron in the larval visual system of Drosophila melanogaster.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Localization of choline acetyltransferase-expressing neurons in the larval visual system of Drosophila melanogaster
- Creators
- Kouji YasuyamaToshihiro KitamotoPaul M Salvaterra
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Cell and tissue research, Vol.282(2), pp.193-202
- DOI
- 10.1007/s004410050472
- PMID
- 8565051
- ISSN
- 0302-766X
- eISSN
- 1432-0878
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/01/1995
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Anesthesia; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
- Record Identifier
- 9984006318102771
Metrics
16 Record Views