Variation in mobility and exercise adaptations between Drosophila species

Evidence for Prepulse Inhibition of Visually Evoked Motor Response in Drosophila melanogaster

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a widely investigated behavior to study the mechanisms of disorders such as anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar mania. PPI has been observed across various vertebrate and invertebrate species; however, it has not yet been reported in adult Drosophila melanogaster. In this study, we describe the first detection of PPI of visually evoked locomotor arousal in flies. To validate our findings, we demonstrate that PPI in Drosophila can be partially reverted by the N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801, known for inducing sensorimotor gating deficits in rodent models. Additionally, we show that the visually evoked response can be inhibited by multiple stimuli presentation, which can also be affected by MK-801. Given the versatility of Drosophila as a model organism for genetic screening and analysis, our results suggest that high-throughput behavioral screenings of adult flies can become a valuable tool for investigating the mechanisms behind PPI.

Exercise and the Brain: Lessons From Invertebrate Studies

Benefits of physical exercise for brain functions are well documented in mammals, including humans. In this review, we will summarize recent research on the effects of species-specific intense locomotion on behavior and brain functions of different invertebrates. Special emphasis is made on understanding the biological significance of these effects as well as underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. The results obtained in three distantly related clades of protostomes, Nematodes, Molluscs and Artropods, suggest that influence of intense locomotion on the brain could have deep roots in evolution and wide adaptive significance. In C. elegans, improved learning, nerve regeneration, resistance to neurodegenerative processes were detected after physical activity; in L. stagnalis—facilitation of decision making in the novel environment, in Drosophila—increased endurance, improved sleep and feeding behavior, in G. bimaculatus—improved orientation in conspecific phonotaxis, enhanced aggressiveness, higher mating success, resistance to some disturbing stimuli. Many of these effects have previously been described in mammals as beneficial results of running, suggesting certain similarity between distantly-related species. Our hypothesis posits that the above modulation of cognitive functions results from changes in the organism’s predictive model. Intense movement is interpreted by the organism as predictive of change, in anticipation of which adjustments need to be made. Identifying the physiological and molecular mechanisms behind these adjustments is easier in experiments in invertebrates and may lead to the discovery of novel neurobiological mechanisms for regulation and correction of cognitive and emotional status.

Drosophila sechellia: A Genetic Model for Behavioral Evolution and Neuroecology

Defining the mechanisms by which animals adapt to their ecological niche is an important problem bridging evolution, genetics, and neurobiology. We review the establishment of a powerful genetic model for comparative behavioral analysis and neuroecology, Drosophila sechellia. This island-endemic fly species is closely related to several cosmopolitan generalists, including Drosophila melanogaster, but has evolved extreme specialism, feeding and reproducing exclusively on the noni fruit of the tropical shrub Morinda citrifolia. We first describe the development and use of genetic approaches to facilitate genotype/phenotype associations in these drosophilids. Next, we survey the behavioral, physiological, and morphological adaptations of D. sechellia throughout its life cycle and outline our current understanding of the genetic and cellular basis of these traits. Finally, we discuss the principles this knowledge begins to establish in the context of host specialization, speciation, and the neurobiology of behavioral evolution and consider open questions and challenges in the field.

The effects of genetic background on exercise performance in Drosophila

The use of the Drosophila model for studying the broad beneficial effects of exercise training has grown over the past decade. As work using Drosophila as an exercise model becomes more widespread, the influence of genetic background on performance should be examined in order to better understand its influence on assessments used to quantitatively measure and compare exercise phenotypes. In this article, we review the various methods of exercise training Drosophila, and the performance of different wild-type Drosophila strains on various physiological assessments of exercise response. We conclude by summarizing the performance trends of commonly used strains.