Identification of Drosophila mutant with memory defects after acquisition of conditioned reflex suppression of courtship.

ABSTRACT

Four lines were selected from a collection of 33 lines prepared by P insertion mutagenesis using a single-copy P-element system; the males of these four lines showed memory defects after acquisition of conditioned reflex suppression of courting. In two lines (P171 and P95), the dynamics of retention of the conditioned reflex in the repeated impregnated-female courting test were similar to those of known short-term memory mutants dnc and rut. In line P153, the dynamics were more reminiscent of the memory dynamics in a known medium-term memory mutant, amn. In line P124, the learning index was insignificant immediately after training was completed, which may indicate that this line was unable to acquire conditioned reflex suppression of courting. Determination of the positions of the P elements (P171 48A-B; P153 49B-C; P124 67B-68A; P95 77C-D) showed no correspondence with previously known mutations producing memory lesions.