Serotonin and Histamine Localization in the CNS of Drosophila melanogaster
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Biomedical Sciences
Mentor Information
Martin Burg, burgm@gvsu.edu
Department
Biomedical Sciences
Location
Kirkhof Center KC5
Start Date
13-4-2011 1:00 PM
End Date
13-4-2011 2:00 PM
Keywords
Life Science
Abstract
Histamine is present in cells of the Drosophila central nervous system (CNS), although the function of these cells has not been well established. The enzyme that catalyzes the formation of histamine is histidine decarboxylase (Hdc). Transgenic flies containing a gene fusion between the 5' transcriptional control region of the Hdc gene (pHdc) and the Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP) have been shown to contain neurons that contained both histamine and the eGFP protein. This allows histaminergic cell visualization without the use of a histamine antibody, which is difficult to use in conjunction with other antibodies. The spatial relationship between histaminergic cells and cells containing another neurotransmitter, serotonin, was performed using immunocytochemical techniques with pHdc-eGFP larva. Results obtained suggest that the locations of histaminergic and serotonergic cells differ from each other, with more serotonergic cells being present in each segment of the CNS.
Serotonin and Histamine Localization in the CNS of Drosophila melanogaster
Kirkhof Center KC5
Histamine is present in cells of the Drosophila central nervous system (CNS), although the function of these cells has not been well established. The enzyme that catalyzes the formation of histamine is histidine decarboxylase (Hdc). Transgenic flies containing a gene fusion between the 5' transcriptional control region of the Hdc gene (pHdc) and the Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP) have been shown to contain neurons that contained both histamine and the eGFP protein. This allows histaminergic cell visualization without the use of a histamine antibody, which is difficult to use in conjunction with other antibodies. The spatial relationship between histaminergic cells and cells containing another neurotransmitter, serotonin, was performed using immunocytochemical techniques with pHdc-eGFP larva. Results obtained suggest that the locations of histaminergic and serotonergic cells differ from each other, with more serotonergic cells being present in each segment of the CNS.