Activity labeling patterns in the medulla of Drosophila melanogaster caused by motion stimuli

We quantitatively describe 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) neuronal activity labeling patterns in the first and second visual neuropil regions of the Drosophila brain, the lamina and the medulla. Careful evaluation of activity patterns resulting from large-field motion stimulation shows that the stimulus-specific bands in the medulla correspond well to the layers found in a quantitative analysis of Golgi-impregnated columnar neurons. A systematic analysis of autoradiograms of different intensities reveals a hierarchy of labeling in the medulla. Under certain conditions, only neurons of the lamina are labeled. Their characteristic terminals in the medulla are used to differentiate among the involved lamina monopolar cell types. The 2-DG banding pattern in the medulla marks layers M1 and M5, the input layers of pathway p1 (the L1 pathway). Therefore, activity labeling of L1 by motion stimuli is very likely. More heavily labeled autoradiograms display activated cells also in layers M2, M9, and M10. The circuitry involved in the processing of motion information thus concentrates on pathways p1 and p2. Layers M4 and M6 of the distal medulla hardly display any label under the stimulus conditions used. The functional significance of selective activity in the medulla is discussed.