An altered electroretinogram transient associated with an unusual jump response in a mutant ofDrosophila (original) (raw)

Summary

1. 1. Mutations at the_stoned_ locus of_Drosophila melanogaster_ produce a reversible temperature-sensitive debilitation. At permissive temperatures they also exhibit an unusual jump response to a light-off stimulus.
2. 1. An increase in the amplitude of the off-transient of the electroretinogram (ERG) is associated with this abnormal jump. Both the jump response and the increased amplitude of the off-transient are shown to be dependent on the duration of the light pulse prior to the light-off stimulus.
3. 1. In_stoned_ flies which are light adapted, the jump response, as measured by recording from the indirect flight muscles, is seen to habituate with increasing light-off frequency. This habituation corresponds to the decrease in the amplitude of the off-transient that also occurs with high-frequency stimulation.
4. 1. Another visual mutant_tan_, removes the off and on-transients of the ERG.
5. 1. The combining of the_stoned_ mutation with_tan_ in the_tan, stoned_ double mutant results in the loss of the jump behavior as well as the partial restoration of the off-transient to an otherwise_tan_-like ERG. The relationship between the increase in the amplitude of the off-transient in_stoned_ flies and the eliciting of the jump response is discussed.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

• Get 10 units per month
• Download Article/Chapter or eBook
• 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
• Cancel anytime Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

• Alawi, A. A., and Pak, W. L. (1971). On-transient of the insect electroretinogram. Its cellular origin.Science 1721055–1057.
  Google Scholar
• Cosens, D., and Manning, A. (1969). Abnormal electroretinogram from a_Drosophila_ mutant.Nature 224285–287.
  Google Scholar
• Eichenbaum, D. M., and Goldsmith, T. H. (1968). Properties of insect photoreceptors lacking synapses.J. Exp. Zool. 16915–32.
  Google Scholar
• Greenspan, R. J. (1980). Mutations of choline acetyltransferase and associated neural defects in_Drosophila melanogaster_.J. Comp. Physiol. 13783–92.
  Google Scholar
• Greenspan, R. J., Finn, J. A., and Hall, J. C. (1980). Acetylcholinesterase mutants in_Drosophila_ and their effects on the structure and function of the central nervous system.J. Comp. Neurol. 189741–774.
  Google Scholar
• Grigliatti, T. A., Hall, L., Rosenbluth, R., and Suzuki, D. T. (1973). Temperature-sensitive mutations in_Drosophila melanogaster._ XIV. A selection of immobile adults.Mol. Gen. Genet. 120107–114.
  Google Scholar
• Hotta, Y., and Benzer, S. (1969). Abnormal electroretinograms in visual mutants of_Drosophila_.Nature 222354–356.
  Google Scholar
• Kaplan, W. D. (1972). Genetic and behavioral studies of_Drosophila_ neurological mutants. In_The Biology of Behavior_ (J. A. Kiger, Ed.), Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, pp. 133–157.
  Google Scholar
• King, D. G. (1977). An interneuron in_Drosophila_ synapses within a peripheral nerve onto the dorsal longitudinal muscle motor neurons.Neurosci. Abstr. 3180.
  Google Scholar
• Levine, J. D. (1974). Giant neuron input in mutant and wild-type_Drosophila_.J. Comp. Physiol. 93265–285.
  Google Scholar
• Pak, W. L. (1975). Mutations affecting the vision of_Drosophila melanogaster_. In_Handbook of Genetics, Vol. 3_ (R. C. King, Ed.), Plenum Press, New York, pp. 703–733.
  Google Scholar
• Pak, W. L., Grossfield, J., and White, N. V. (1969). Non-phototactic mutants in a study of vision in_Drosophila_.Nature 222351–354.
  Google Scholar
• Salkoff, L. B., and Kelly, L. E. (1978). Temperature induced seizure and frequency dependent neuromuscular block in a_ts_ mutant of_Drosophila_.Nature 273156–158.
  Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Author notes

1. Leonard E. Kelly
   Present address: Department of Genetics, University of Melbourne, 3052, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Genetics, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, Berkeley, California, USA
   Leonard E. Kelly

Authors

1. Leonard E. Kelly
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kelly, L.E. An altered electroretinogram transient associated with an unusual jump response in a mutant of_Drosophila_.Cell Mol Neurobiol 3, 143–149 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00735278

Download citation

• Received: 01 February 1982
• Revised: 01 April 1983
• Accepted: 06 April 1983
• Issue Date: June 1983
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00735278

Key words