Exposure to static electric fields leads to changes in biogenic amine levels in the brains of Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: Natural and anthropogenic static electric fields are commonly found in the environment and can have both beneficial and harmful effects on many animals. Here, we asked how the fruitfly responds to these fields and what the consequences of exposure are on the levels of biogenic amines in the brain. When given a choice in a Y-tube bioassay Drosophila avoided electric fields, and the greater the field strength the more likely Drosophila were to avoid it. By comparing wild-type flies, flies with wings surgically removed and vestigial winged flies we found that the presence of intact wings was necessary to produce avoidance behaviour. We also show that Coulomb forces produced by electric fields physically lift excised wings, with the smaller wings of males being raised by lower field strengths

SUBMITTER: Newland PL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4528531 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature