[P175]: Gene expression study of the mammalian thalamus during development

How does a fly interact with its environment? How is the system of sensory perception established in insects? An array of bristles covers a large portion of the abdominal cuticle of Drosophila melanogaster. Bristles are external sensory organs able to detect mechanical signals from the environment. Each of these bristles, arising during development of the epidermis, contains a sensory neuron. The dendrite and axon (called neurites) grow away from the cell body of this neuron to innervate the sensory structure and connect the central nervous system, respectively. I have found that neurites behave and establish their routes differently during development depending on their position in the abdominal epithelium. Moreover, although all abdominal epithelial cells show the same anteroposterior orientation, this is not always the case with neurites. Accuracy of the regulation of neurite orientation will determine correct relay of the peripheral mechanosensory information to the central nervous system. Outgrowth occurs in an epithelial substrate that simultaneously shows diffusion of morphogens, expression of reported attractive and repulsive cues, and presence of potential pioneer cells. These are all equally good candidates for guiding growing neurites. My poster will show how I am assessing guidance factors required for differential pathfinding of these neurites.