Title
An improved assay and tools for measuring mechanical nociception in drosophila larvae
Date Issued
01 October 2020
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Galko M.J.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Publisher(s)
Journal of Visualized Experiments
Abstract
Published assays for mechanical nociception in Drosophila have led to variable assessments of behavior. Here, we fabricated, for use with Drosophila larvae, customized metal nickel-titanium alloy (nitinol) filaments. These mechanical probes are similar to the von Frey filaments used in vertebrates to measure mechanical nociception. Here, we demonstrate how to make and calibrate these mechanical probes and how to generate a full behavioral dose-response from subthreshold (innocuous or non-noxious range) to suprathreshold (low to high noxious range) stimuli. To demonstrate the utility of the probes, we investigated tissue damage-induced hypersensitivity in Drosophila larvae. Mechanical allodynia (hypersensitivity to a normally innocuous mechanical stimulus) and hyperalgesia (exaggerated responsiveness to a noxious mechanical stimulus) have not yet been established in Drosophila larvae. Using mechanical probes that are normally innocuous or probes that typically elicit an aversive behavior, we found that Drosophila larvae develop mechanical hypersensitization (both allodynia and hyperalgesia) after tissue damage. Thus, the mechanical probes and assay that we illustrate here will likely be important tools to dissect the fundamental molecular/genetic mechanisms of mechanical hypersensitivity.
Volume
2020
Issue
164
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Otras ciencias médicas
DOI
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85096254185
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of Visualized Experiments
ISSN of the container
1940087X
DOI of the container
10.3791/61911
Sponsor(s)
We thank Thomas Wang for developing the prototype von Frey filaments, Patrick J. Huang for improving the mechanical probe assay, the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center for the control (w1118) and ppk-Gal4>UAS-mCD8-GFP fly stocks, and Galko lab members for critically reading the manuscript. This work was supported by R21NS087360 and R35GM126929 to MJG.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus