Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: TRP , TRPA , TRPA1

Title: Serotonergic neurons of the Drosophila air-puff-stimulated flight circuit.

Authors: Sufia Sadaf, Gaiti Hasan

Journal, date & volume: J. Biosci., 2014 Sep , 39, 575-83

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25116612

Abstract
Monoaminergic modulation of insect flight is well documented. Recently, we demonstrated that synaptic activity is required in serotonergic neurons for Drosophila flight. This requirement is during early pupal development, when the flight circuit is formed, as well as in adults. Using a Ca2+-activity-based GFP reporter, here we show that serotonergic neurons in both prothoracic and mesothoracic segments are activated upon air-puff-stimulated flight. Moreover ectopic activation of the entire serotonergic system by TrpA1, a heat activated cation channel, induces flight, even in the absence of an air-puff stimulus.