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First published online 16 October 2008
doi: 10.1242/dev.026773

Development 135, 3707-3717 (2008)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2008
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The development of motor coordination in Drosophila embryos

Sarah Crisp1,*, Jan Felix Evers1, André Fiala2 and Michael Bate1

1 Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.
2 Lehrstuhl für Genetik und Neurobiologie, Theodor-Boveri-Institut Biozentrum, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: sjc85{at}cam.ac.uk)

Accepted 26 September 2008

We used non-invasive muscle imaging to study the onset of motor activity and emergence of coordinated movement in Drosophila embryos. Earliest movements are myogenic, and neurally controlled muscle contractions first appear with the onset of bursting activity 17 hours after egg laying. Initial episodes of activity are poorly organised and coordinated crawling sequences only begin to appear after a further hour of bursting. Thus, network performance improves during this first period of activity. The embryo continues to exhibit bursts of crawling-like sequences until shortly before hatching, while other reflexes also mature. Bursting does not begin as a reflex response to sensory input but appears to reflect the onset of spontaneous activity in the motor network. It does not require GABA-mediated transmission, and, by using a light-activated channel to excite the network, we demonstrate activity-dependent depression that may cause burst termination.

Key words: Drosophila, Embryo, Movement, Muscle, Coordination


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Development 2008 135: e2202. [Full Text]  



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