Larval atlas

We have generated about 2000 image stacks of single labeled neurons of the third instar foraging Drosophila larva. To do this, we are using V3D (HHMI Janelia Farm) to trace neurons (see below for an example of such a trace)

We currently finishing tracing these and plan to integrate these into a 'virtual ganglion': an electronic version of one fly ganglion that will contain all neurons.

real image of dbd (green) fasII (blue) and serotonin (red)

digitial version

traces of about 50 interneurons

completion of the atlas and identifying GAL4's for each neuron

In collaboration with Jim Truman (Janelia), we are using the GAL4 collection to complete the atlas so that each larval ventral nerve cord neuron will have a described structure and, hopefully, a GAL4.

spatial analysis/statistics

We have already developed methods to conduct spatial statistics on neuronal structures and will apply these to our atlas. We are especially interested in variance of structures amongst similar neurons.

Chen, John and Barry Condron. Drosophila serotonergic varicosities are not distributed in a regular manner. (2009) J Comp Neurology 515: 441-453 pdf

Chen, John and Barry Condron. (2008) Branch architecture of the fly larval abdominal serotonergic neurons. . Developmental Biol. 320: 30-38 pdf

Condron, Barry. (2008) J. Neuroinformatics. PAJ: A software package for spatial point analysis. 6:57-61. (Commentary: same issue) pdf

future

Eventually we will want to use our structural data to understand the role of serotonergic signalling (see serotonin section).