Repellency of α-pinene against the house fly, Musca domestica.

Musca domestica L. is a non-biting nuisance fly that is capable of transmitting a large variety of pathogens to humans and non-human animals. Natural compounds and their derivatives, which are often less toxic than entirely synthetic compounds, may be used as repellents against M.

The adult Dipteran crop: a unique and overlooked organ.

The diverticulated crop is a unique and overlooked foregut organ in the Diptera that affects many physiological and behavioral functions. Historically, the crop was viewed simply as a reservoir for excess nutrients. The crop lobes and crop duct form an elaborate sphincter and pump system that moves stored nutrients to the crop lobes, oral cavity, and the midgut.

Insulin injection and hemolymph extraction to measure insulin sensitivity in adult Drosophila melanogaster.

Conserved nutrient sensing mechanisms exist between mammal and fruit fly where peptides resembling mammalian insulin and glucagon, respectively function to maintain glucose homeostasis during developmental larval stages. Studies on largely post-mitotic adult flies have revealed perturbation of glucose homeostasis as the result of genetic ablation of insulin-like peptide (ILP) producing cells (IPCs). Thus, adult fruit flies hold great promise as a suitable genetic model system for metabolic disorders including type II diabetes.

Partial ablation of adult Drosophila insulin-producing neurons modulates glucose homeostasis and extends life span without insulin resistance.

In Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster), neurosecretory insulin-like peptide-producing cells (IPCs), analogous to mammalian pancreatic beta cells are involved in glucose homeostasis. Extending those findings, we have developed in the adult fly an oral glucose tolerance test and demonstrated that IPCs indeed are responsible for executing an acute glucose clearance response.

Adult Drosophila melanogaster as a model for the study of glucose homeostasis.

Genetic ablation of Drosophila melanogaster insulin-like peptide (DILP) and adipokinetic hormone-producing cells accompanied by cell biological and metabolic measurements have revealed functional conservation in nutrient sensing and the underlying signaling mechanisms between mammal and fruit fly. Despite significant advances gained in understanding the neuroendocrine responses to nutrient changes during developmental larval stages, we discuss here the need for investigating glucose homeostasis in the post-mitotic adult stage as the result of ablation of DILP producing cells (IPCs). Our recent studies demonstrate that while both constitutive and adult-specific partial ablation of IPCs renders those flies hyperglycemic and glucose intolerant, flies with adult-specific IPC ablation remain insulin sensitive.