Exploring Interactions Between the Circadian Rhythm System and Sex on Alcohol Sedation

Presenter: Elizabeth Therese Hanlon

Faculty Sponsor: Princy Quadros Mennella

School: Westfield State University

Research Area: Animal Behaviour

Session: Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM, Auditorium, A25

ABSTRACT

Alcohol abuse is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in adults. Alcohol consumption also negatively affects the circadian rhythm system in humans. Circadian rhythm dysfunction may influence behavioral and physiological symptoms of alcohol consumption, a relationship also observed in Drosophila melanogaster. In Drosophila melanogaster, circadian rhythm is regulated by a negative feedback loop of transcription factors within clock neurons. Loss-of-function (LOF) mutants of Period and timeless, two genes involved in the circadian rhythm timekeeping, results in arrhythmic flies. Using these flies, we investigated the interaction between the circadian rhythm system and sex on alcohol sedation in Drosophila. We hypothesize that wild type flies will sedate more quickly than mutant flies, and that female flies will sedate more quickly than male flies. Tim and per LOF mutants were assayed for the loss of righting reflex. Flies were assayed separately by strain and sex. Each vial, containing 8 flies, was exposed to a cotton ball containing 500ul ethanol. During continuous exposure to the ethanol, flies received a tap to the vial at 1-minute intervals. At each interval, the number of flies that could not right themselves and walk was noted. ST50 was defined as the time when 50% of the flies in the vial were sedated. Preliminary analysis of ST50 data from the two strains suggest a significant difference in rate of sedation by strain, but no effect of sex was observed. We plan to run additional flies from each strain as well as include wild type flies for comparison. 

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