Early development of the Drosophila mushroom body: the roles of eyeless and dachshund

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2000 papers

Abstract

The mushroom body (MB) is a uniquely identifiable brain structure present in most arthropods. Functional studies have established its role in learning and memory. Here we describe the early embryonic origin of the four neuroblasts that give rise to the mushroom body and follow its morphogenesis through later embryonic stages. In the late embryo, axons of MB neurons lay down a characteristic pattern of pathways. eyeless (ey) and dachshund (dac) are expressed in the progenitor cells and neurons of the MB in the embryo and larva. In the larval brains of the hypomorphic ey(R) strain, we find that beside an overall reduction of MB neurons, one MB pathway, the medial lobe, is malformed or missing. Overexpression of eyeless in MBs under the control of an MB-specific promoter results in a converse type of axon pathway abnormality, i.e. malformation or loss of the dorsal lobe. In contrast, loss of dachshund results in deformation of the dorsal lobe, whereas no lobe abnormalities can be detected following dachshund overexpression. These results indicate that ey and dachshund may have a role in axon pathway selection during embryogenesis.

Related Papers

• → Molecular markers for identified neuroblasts and ganglion mother cells in the Drosophila central nervous system(1992)407 cited
• → Normal Function of the mushroom body defect Gene of Drosophila Is Required for the Regulation of the Number and Proliferation of Neuroblasts(1994)115 cited
• → A subpopulation of mushroom body intrinsic neurons is generated by protocerebral neuroblasts in the tobacco hornworm moth, Manduca sexta (Sphingidae, Lepidoptera)(2011)10 cited
• → Mushroom Body Neuroblasts of the Lepidopteran Brain (Insecta: Lepidoptera)(2018)2 cited
• → Imp is required for timely exit from quiescence in Drosophila type II neuroblasts(2022)