Assaying Thermo-nociceptive Behavior in Drosophila Larvae
Meike Petersen,
Federico Tenedini,
Nina Hoyer,
Fritz Kutschera,
Peter Soba
Affiliations
Meike Petersen
Research Group Neuronal Patterning and Connectivity, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Campus Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Federico Tenedini
Research Group Neuronal Patterning and Connectivity, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Campus Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Nina Hoyer
Research Group Neuronal Patterning and Connectivity, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Campus Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Fritz Kutschera
ZMNH workshop, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Campus Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Peter Soba
Research Group Neuronal Patterning and Connectivity, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Campus Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Thermo-nociception, the detection and behavioral response to noxious temperatures, is a highly conserved action to avoid injury and ensure survival. Basic molecular mechanisms of thermal responses have been elucidated in several model organisms and are of clinical relevance as thermal hypersensitivity (thermos-allodynia) is common in neuropathic pain syndromes. Drosophila larvae show stereotyped escape behavior upon noxious heat stimulation, which can be easily quantified and coupled with molecular genetic approaches. It has been successfully used to elucidate key molecular components and circuits involved in thermo-nociceptive responses. We provide a detailed and updated protocol of this previously described method (Tracey et al., 2003) to apply a defined local heat stimulus to larvae using a fast-regulating hot probe.
