A "bottom-counting" video system for measuring cocaine-induced behaviors in Drosophila.
Cocaine exposure elicits a set of stereotypic behaviors in Drosophila that are strikingly similar to the cocaine-induced behaviors observed in vertebrates. This provides a valuable model for the study of cocaine abuse and has led to the discovery of a connection between the cocaine response pathway and the circadian system. This article describes a simplified assessment of cocaine-induced behavior combined with an image acquisition system, which allows the assay to be semiautomated. With this new system, cocaine response can be evaluated in a fraction of the time required by the previous assay, and subjectivity in scoring is reduced dramatically.
George
Rebecca
R
Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, USA.
Lease
Kevin
K
Burnette
James
J
Hirsh
Jay
J
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000172:deficiency; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C539040:PER protein, Drosophila; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D003042:Cocaine