University of Kentucky

Research in Neurophysiology: Calcium's role in Synaptic Transmission, Facilitation, and Behavioral Regulation

Institution

University of Kentucky

Abstract

The cacTS2 Drosophila line has reduced Ca2+ channel function at raised temperatures. Here, we used the cacTS2 strain to investigate the behavioral and electrophysiological response in both vision and olfaction in adult Drosophila. Our experiments came to the following conclusions: (1) Cac mutant larvae have significant learning abilities at room temperature and (2) they show no significant sign of learning at higher temperature. Since clinically the regulation of calcium channel function in conditions of epilepsy and convulsions are used, the long-term effect of reducing calcium channel function is of interest. Short-term facilitation is particularly prominent at many neuromuscular junctions in crustaceans and is important in grading muscular contractions. Currently we are analyzing if the occurrences in characteristics of quantal events can by clustered into groups. This provides novel approaches in determining subsets of the single evoked quanta. Most animals assess the environment in which they live and consequently alter their behavior according to various stimuli. Addition of physiological observations allow for an expanded analysis of the crayfish's behavioral as well as autonomic responses. Preliminary evidence indicates crayfish experienced high levels of stress when prevented from moving freely between environments at their own discretion.

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Research in Neurophysiology: Calcium's role in Synaptic Transmission, Facilitation, and Behavioral Regulation

The cacTS2 Drosophila line has reduced Ca2+ channel function at raised temperatures. Here, we used the cacTS2 strain to investigate the behavioral and electrophysiological response in both vision and olfaction in adult Drosophila. Our experiments came to the following conclusions: (1) Cac mutant larvae have significant learning abilities at room temperature and (2) they show no significant sign of learning at higher temperature. Since clinically the regulation of calcium channel function in conditions of epilepsy and convulsions are used, the long-term effect of reducing calcium channel function is of interest. Short-term facilitation is particularly prominent at many neuromuscular junctions in crustaceans and is important in grading muscular contractions. Currently we are analyzing if the occurrences in characteristics of quantal events can by clustered into groups. This provides novel approaches in determining subsets of the single evoked quanta. Most animals assess the environment in which they live and consequently alter their behavior according to various stimuli. Addition of physiological observations allow for an expanded analysis of the crayfish's behavioral as well as autonomic responses. Preliminary evidence indicates crayfish experienced high levels of stress when prevented from moving freely between environments at their own discretion.