Summary
Behavioral, light and electron microscopic studies of young and oldDrosophila melanogaster are presented. Negative geotaxis and mating studies were used as indices of behavior; these began to decline at ages 28–35 days and very low values were obtained at 70 to 85 days. With the light microscope the brains of the old flies demonstrated shrinkage of the cortex, loss of basophilia in the cytoplasm of the giant neurons (neurosecretory cells), and vacuolation in the neuropil. Electron microscopy of the brains of aged flies revealed a marked loss of free ribosomes and granular endoplasmic reticulum and increased cytoplasmic lipid and autophagic vacuoles in neurosecretory cells. There was also a general decrease in the amount of neuronal cytoplasm. Vacuoles and pale processes, sometimes identified as swollen cell processes, were frequently seen in the deep cortex and neuropil. A heterogeneous population of dense bodies was found in the neuropil. Morphologically the bodies resemble lipoprotein complexes and are consistent with age pigment, but further characterization awaits biochemical studies.
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Herman, M.M., Miquel, J. & Johnson, M. Insect brain as a model for the study of aging. Acta Neuropathol 19, 167–183 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684595
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684595