Giant Fiber Activation of an Intrinsic Muscle in the Mesothoracic Leg of Drosophila Melanogaster

Cinematographic analysis reveals that an important component of the light-elicited escape response of Drosophila melanogaster is the extension of the femur-tibia joint of the mesothoracic leg. During the jumping phase of the response, this extension works synergistically with extension of the femur. Femur extension is generated by contraction of the tergotrochanteral muscle (TTM), one of four previously described escape response muscles. Femur-tibia joint extension in the mesothoracic leg has been thought to be controlled by contraction of the tibial levator (TLM), an intrinsic leg muscle. We investigated the activation of the TLM during the escape response. Electrical stimulation of the giant fiber interneuron that mediates the escape response results in activation of the TLM with a latency of 1.46 +/− 0.02 ms. The TLM is innervated by a motor neuron (TLMn) with a large cell body in the mesothoracic ganglion. The TLMn has extensive arborizations in the lateral mesothoracic leg neuromere and has a prominent medially directed neurite. To investigate possible presynaptic inputs activating the TLMn during the escape response, we analyzed the muscle responses of two mutants, giant fiber A1 and bendless. Our analysis suggests that the TLMn is activated by a novel pathway.