Protocols for measuring cold-evoked neural activity and cold tolerance in Drosophila larvae following fictive cold acclimation

Nathaniel J Himmel; Akira Sakurai; Kevin J Donaldson; Daniel N Cox

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101510

Protocols for measuring cold-evoked neural activity and cold tolerance in Drosophila larvae following fictive cold acclimation

STAR Protoc. 2022 Sep 16;3(3):101510. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101510. Epub 2022 Jun 29.

Authors

Nathaniel J Himmel¹, Akira Sakurai¹, Kevin J Donaldson¹, Daniel N Cox²

Affiliations

¹ Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
² Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. Electronic address: dcox18@gsu.edu.

Abstract

Here, we outline protocols to study cold acclimation in Drosophila from a neurobiological perspective, starting with fictive cold acclimation using a custom-built optogenetics-housing apparatus we call the OptoBox. We also provide detailed steps for single-unit electrophysiological recordings from larval cold nociceptors and a high-throughput cold-tolerance assay. These protocols expand the toolkit for the study of insect cold acclimation and nociception. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Himmel et al. (2021).

Keywords: Behavior; Model Organisms; Neuroscience.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acclimatization* / physiology
Animals
Drosophila* / physiology
Larva / physiology

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding