Cold Nociception and the 13D08, 36E08 GAL4 Drivers in Bilateral Contraction in Drosophila melanogaster Larvae

Drosophila melanogaster is a species of invertebrates. While invertebrates lack spinal columns, they can help us to better understand the neural mechanisms underlying cold nociception in vertebrate animals. This study examines the behavior Drosophila melanogaster larvae express when introduced to cold, noxious temperatures. Specifically, Drosophila melanogaster larvae exhibit a bilateral contraction that cause the head and tail to withdraw towards the center of the body. This behavior requires connections among various neurons working conjunctively to perform such an action. It has been established that Class III sensory neurons play a significant role in cold nociception. However, there must be other neuronal populations that receive their sensory information and activate the response. We aim to investigate other neuronal populations that may be part of the cold circuit in Drosophila melanogaster.