QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (41) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fayyazuddin, A. Articles by Dickinson, M. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fayyazuddin, A. Articles by Dickinson, M. H.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Volume 16, Number 16, Issue of August 15, 1996 pp. 5225-5232
Copyright ©1996 Society for Neuroscience

Haltere Afferents Provide Direct, Electrotonic Input to a Steering Motor Neuron in the Blowfly, Calliphora

Received April 10, 1996; revised May 28, 1996; accepted May 30, 1996.

Amir Fayyazuddin¹ and Michael H. Dickinson^{1, 2}

¹ Committee on Neurobiology and ² Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637

The first basalar muscle (b1) is one of 17 small muscles in flies that control changes in wing stroke kinematics during steering maneuvers. The b1 is unique, however, in that it fires a single phase-locked spike during each wingbeat cycle. The phase-locked firing of the b1's motor neuron (mnb1) is thought to result from wingbeat-synchronous mechanosensory input, such as that originating from the campaniform sensilla at the base of the halteres. Halteres are sophisticated equilibrium organs of flies that function to detect angular rotations of the body during flight. We have developed a new preparation to determine whether the campaniform sensilla at the base of the halteres are responsible for the phasic activity of b1. Using intracellular recording and mechanical stimulation, we have found one identified haltere campaniform field (dF2) that provides strong synaptic input to the mnb1. This haltere to mnb1 connection consists of a fast and a slow component. The fast component is monosynaptic, mediated by an electrical synapse, and thus can follow haltere stimulation at high frequencies. The slow component is possibly polysynaptic, mediated by a chemical synapse, and fatigues at high stimulus frequencies. Thus, the fast monosynaptic electrical pathway between haltere afferents and mnb1 may be responsible in part for the phase-locked firing of b1 during flight.

Key words: haltere; gap junctions; sensory motor reflex; flight; mechanosensory; thoracic ganglion

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. J. Huston and H. G. Krapp Nonlinear Integration of Visual and Haltere Inputs in Fly Neck Motor Neurons J. Neurosci., October 21, 2009; 29(42): 13097 - 13105. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Fotowat, A. Fayyazuddin, H. J. Bellen, and F. Gabbiani A Novel Neuronal Pathway for Visually Guided Escape in Drosophila melanogaster J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2009; 102(2): 875 - 885. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Rosner, M. Egelhaaf, J. Grewe, and A. K. Warzecha Variability of blowfly head optomotor responses J. Exp. Biol., April 15, 2009; 212(8): 1170 - 1184. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Mronz and F.-O. Lehmann The free-flight response of Drosophila to motion of the visual environment J. Exp. Biol., July 1, 2008; 211(13): 2026 - 2045. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Hesselberg and F.-O. Lehmann Turning behaviour depends on frictional damping in the fruit fly Drosophila J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2007; 210(24): 4319 - 4334. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Bender and M. H. Dickinson A comparison of visual and haltere-mediated feedback in the control of body saccades in Drosophila melanogaster J. Exp. Biol., December 1, 2006; 209(23): 4597 - 4606. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Kalb, M. Egelhaaf, and R. Kurtz Robust integration of motion information in the fly visual system revealed by single cell photoablation. J. Neurosci., July 26, 2006; 26(30): 7898 - 7906. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. H. Dickinson The Initiation and Control of Rapid Flight Maneuvers in Fruit Flies Integr. Comp. Biol., April 1, 2005; 45(2): 274 - 281. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Sherman and M. H. Dickinson Summation of visual and mechanosensory feedback in Drosophila flight control J. Exp. Biol., January 1, 2004; 207(1): 133 - 142. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Holtje and R. Hustert Rapid mechano-sensory pathways code leg impact and elicit very rapid reflexes in insects J. Exp. Biol., August 15, 2003; 206(16): 2715 - 2724. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Sherman and M. H. Dickinson A comparison of visual and haltere-mediated equilibrium reflexes in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster J. Exp. Biol., March 2, 2003; 206(2): 295 - 302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Jindrich and R. J. Full Dynamic stabilization of rapid hexapedal locomotion J. Exp. Biol., September 15, 2002; 205(18): 2803 - 2823. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Fayyazuddin and M. H. Dickinson Convergent Mechanosensory Input Structures the Firing Phase of a Steering Motor Neuron in the Blowfly, Calliphora J Neurophysiol, October 1, 1999; 82(4): 1916 - 1926. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C Schilstra and J. Hateren Blowfly flight and optic flow. I. Thorax kinematics and flight dynamics J. Exp. Biol., January 6, 1999; 202(11): 1481 - 1490. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. P. Chan, F. Prete, and M. H. Dickinson Visual Input to the Efferent Control System of a Fly's "Gyroscope" Science, April 10, 1998; 280(5361): 289 - 292. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. R. Trimarchi and R. K. Murphey The shaking-B2 Mutation Disrupts Electrical Synapses in a Flight Circuit in Adult Drosophila J. Neurosci., June 15, 1997; 17(12): 4700 - 4710. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help