Neuronal structural studies using LSFM in Drosophila melanogaster

Neurons form the fundamental centre of the brain and communicate via neuronal excitability. Drosophila melanogaster is extensively used as the best model organism for various studies in neurobiological aspects. The circadian pacemaker in drosophila consists of 150 clock neurons divided into different groups based on their neuroanatomy. Among these, a neuropeptide called pigment dispersing factor (PDF) produced in the small ventral lateral neurons (sLNvs) plays a vital role in regulating circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. This paper proposes the study of visualizing PDF neurons in Drosophila melanogaster using an in-house developed simultaneous multiple level selective plane illumination microscopy (sMx-SPIM) system. In this study, PDF neurons in drosophila are used to examine the arborizations during signal transmission. Employing our homebuilt microscope, we can analyze the excitability of the PDF neurons in flies. Due to the design of the sMx-SPIM, one can visualize the region of interest at different magnification levels simultaneously, which helps to inspect the minute details and structural changes in neurons. The CCD camera equipped with the microscopic unit assists in observing and acquiring the entire procedure.