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Targeting Insect Olfaction in vivo and in vitro Using Functional Imaging
Fabio Miazzi1, Kalpana Jain1, Sabine Kaltofen1
1Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
|March 14, 2022
Summary
Scientists studied how fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) process smell using advanced imaging. They found that simplified methods for observing olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) still accurately reflect how these cells respond to odors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Biology
- Insect Physiology
Background:
- Insects rely on their olfactory system to detect volatile chemicals for survival.
- Odorant receptors (ORs) on olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in the fly antenna are crucial for processing odor information.
- Studying this process requires accessible methods for functional imaging of OSNs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present and compare different preparations for monitoring odor information processing in Drosophila melanogaster OSNs.
- To assess the impact of preparation complexity on the functional imaging of olfactory responses.
- To validate simplified experimental setups for studying olfactory sensory neuron dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Developed an *in vivo* preparation to image Ca2+ dynamics in specific OSN populations using the GCaMP3 reporter during airborne odor stimulation.
- Created a method to extract OSNs and embed them in a silica hydrogel for *ex vivo* imaging with dissolved odors.
- Utilized functional imaging of Ca2+ dynamics to monitor OSN responses under both preparation conditions.
Main Results:
- Both *in vivo* and *ex vivo* preparations allowed for monitoring of odor information processing in OSNs.
- Odor response dynamics were qualitatively similar across the different experimental preparations.
- Reduced experimental complexity in the *ex vivo* hydrogel preparation did not alter the concentration-dependent odor responses at the OSN level.
Conclusions:
- The developed *in vivo* and *ex vivo* preparations are suitable for studying olfactory processing in Drosophila OSNs.
- Simplified experimental conditions, such as using a silica hydrogel, maintain the integrity of odor response dynamics.
- These findings provide reliable methods for investigating the sophisticated mechanisms of insect olfaction.
