Fig. 4: Identification of chemicals that ameliorate the polyQ-induced impairment of VBFD.
From: Assessing the cognitive status of Drosophila by the value-based feeding decision
a The experimental paradigms of 41Q-HA expression and drug treatments. b, c VBFD assays (150 mM sucrose vs. 150 mM arabinose) were performed in 15-day-old drug-treated and control female flies. The drugs used were 1, 20, and 50 mM LiCl in (b); 20, 100, and 500 μM DNIC-1 in (c). Results were expressed as means ± SEM and analyzed by two-way ANOVA. n = 100 for each condition. The statistical significance was assessed by the comparison to 41Q-HA-expressing flies fed with 0.5% DMSO. *p < 0.01. d Administration of 500 μM DNIC-1 for 15 days reduced the accumulation of 41Q-HA aggregates in adult brains. Brain samples were stained with anti-HA antibody (green; stained for 41Q-HA). Scale bars, 100 μm. The volume of 41Q-HA aggregates was quantified as described in the “Methods”. Results were expressed as means ± SEM and analyzed by Mann–Whitney test. n = 10 for each condition. *p < 0.01. e Administration of 500 μM DNIC-1 for 15 days markedly reduced the number of cleaved Cas-3-positive cells in the mushroom body region of 41Q-HA-expressing female flies. MB, mushroom body; LH, lateral horn; AL+VLP, antenna lobe and ventrolateral protocerebrum; OL, optic lobe. Results were expressed as means ± SEM and analyzed by Mann–Whitney test. n = 10 for each condition. *p < 0.01. Genotype for 41Q-HA-expressing flies: TubP-Gal80ts/+; nSyb-Gal4/UAS-41Q-HA. The above flies were developed at 18 °C and transferred to 29 °C right after eclosion. VBFD assays were performed at 29 °C.
