Journal of Comparative Physiology B

, Volume 186, Issue 7, pp 829–841 | Cite as

Modulatory effects on Drosophila larva hearts: room temperature, acute and chronic cold stress

  • Yue Chen Zhu
  • Emily Yocom
  • Jacob Sifers
  • Henry Uradu
  • Robin L. Cooper
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

Ectothermic animals are susceptible to temperature changes such as cold shock with seasons. To survive through a cold shock or season, ectotherms have developed unique strategies. Our interest is focusing on the modulation of physiological functions during cold shock and prolonged cold exposure in the fruit fly. We use Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to investigate cardiac function in response to modulators (5-HT—serotonin, Ach—acetylcholine, OA—octopamine, DA—dopamine and a cocktail of modulators) in acute cold shock and chronic cold shock conditions. Semi-intact larvae are used to provide direct access to the modulators of known concentration in a defined saline. The results show that 10 µM 5HT is the only modulator which maintains heart rate for larva raised at 21 °C and then exposed to acute cold shock (10 °C). The modulators 1 µM OA, 10 µM 5HT, 1 mM Ach, 10 µM Ach and a cocktail of modulators (at 10 µM) increased the heart rate significantly in larvae which were cold conditioned (10 °C for 10 days). HPLC analysis indicated both OA and 5-HT decreased in chronic cold conditioning. The larvae maintain heart function in the cold which may be contributed by low circulating levels of modulators. The larval heart responds better to 5-HT, OA, and Ach in conditioned cold than for acute cold, suggesting some acclimation to cold.

Keywords

Serotonin Dopamine Acetylcholine Octopamine Cocktail Heart rate Cold shock Drosophila Larvae 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Nicholas M. Teets (Univ. of KY) for insightful comments and suggestions on this manuscript. We thank Mr. Cole Malloy, Dr. Zana Majeed, Ms. Angel Ho and Ms. Clara de Castro for help in aspects of this project as well as Dr. Rymond for use of the cold room. This work was funded by G. Ribble fellowship from Dept. of Biology, Univ. of KY (HU), JS and EY were supported by KY IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Grant #P20GM103436 and personal funds (RLC).

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • Yue Chen Zhu
    • 1
  • Emily Yocom
    • 1
  • Jacob Sifers
    • 1
  • Henry Uradu
    • 1
  • Robin L. Cooper
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Biology and Center for Muscle BiologyUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonUSA

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