Koto M, Tanouye M A, Ferrus A, Thomas J B, Wyman R J
Brain Res. 1981 Sep 28;221(2):213-7. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(81)90772-1.
The morphology of the cervical giant fiber (CGF) neuron of Drosophila melanogaster was studied by intracellular injection of Lucifer yellow dye. The CGF neuron is the command cell in a motor circuit causing visually driven escape behavior: a single action potential in a CGF axon produces patterned activity in jump and flight muscles. The present study identified the CGF cell body, a large soma located in the posterior part of the lower ipsilateral protocerebrum. The main process runs anteriorly from the cell body, extends three branches, and turns posteromedially while descending through the brain. The CGF axon courses through the cervical connective and ends within the mesothoracic neuromere of the thoracic ganglion. Thus, the CGF neuron is an interneuron, not a motoneuron as previously believed. We have been isolating mutants that affect CGF neuron-mediated behavior. Comparison of CGF neuron morphology in wildtype strains with that in these mutants will allow identification of genes that affect the development, structure, and connections of the CGF neuron.
通过向果蝇黑腹果蝇的颈巨纤维（CGF）神经元内注射路西法黄染料，研究了其形态。CGF神经元是运动回路中的指令细胞，可引发视觉驱动的逃避行为：CGF轴突中的单个动作电位会在跳跃和飞行肌肉中产生模式化活动。本研究确定了CGF细胞体，它是位于同侧原脑下部后部的一个大细胞体。主要突起从细胞体向前延伸，延伸出三个分支，并在穿过大脑下行时向后内侧转弯。CGF轴突穿过颈神经连合，终止于胸神经节的中胸神经节内。因此，CGF神经元是一个中间神经元，而不是先前认为的运动神经元。我们一直在分离影响CGF神经元介导行为的突变体。将野生型菌株中的CGF神经元形态与这些突变体中的形态进行比较，将有助于鉴定影响CGF神经元发育、结构和连接的基因。
