A simple way to measure ethanol sensitivity in flies

Thomas Maples, Adrian Rothenfluh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Low doses of ethanol cause flies to become hyperactive, while high doses are sedating. The sensitivity to ethanol-induced sedation of a given fly strain is correlated with that strain s ethanol preference, and therefore sedation is a highly relevant measure to study the genetics of alcohol responses and drinking. We demonstrate a simple way to expose flies to ethanol and measure its intoxicating effects. The assay we describe can determine acute sensitivity, as well as ethanol tolerance induced by repeat exposure. It does not require a technically involved setup, and can therefore be applied in any laboratory with basic fly culture tools.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2541
JournalJournal of Visualized Experiments
Issue number48
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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