adult dopaminergic VUM neuron of the gnathal ganglion [FBbt_00110128]

adult dopaminergic VUM neuron of the gnathal ganglion

ID: FBbt_00110128

Unpaired adult dopaminergic intrinsic gnathal ganglion neuron whose cell body is located ventromedially in the gnathal ganglion (Marella et al., 2012; Sterne et al., 2021. It arborizes extensively in the ventroanterior area of the gnathal ganglion with presynaptic and postsynaptic terminals (Marella et al., 2012; Sterne et al., 2021. It is involved in modulating the proboscis extension response (PER) with its activity being sufficient to trigger PER (Marella et al., 2012. (Marella et al., 2012, Sterne et al., 2021)

The nature of the neurotransmitter was assessed by labelling cells with a tyrosine hydroxylase GAL4 driver (TH-GAL4 - FBtp0020119) and by using an antibody against tyrosine hydroxylase. Presynaptic terminals were labeled with synaptobrevin-GFP. Specific activation of the VUM neuron with UAS-TRPA1 (FBtp0040248) triggers proboscis extension. The tonic firing rate of the VUM neuron is low in conditions when the probability of proboscis extension is low (satiety) and increases in conditions when the probability of extension is high (hunger) (Marella et al., 2012.