OptoChamber: A Low-cost, Easy-to-Make, Customizable, and Multi-Chambered Electronic Device for Applying Optogenetic Stimulation to Larval Drosophila melanogaster

TL;DR

OptoChamber is an affordable and easy-to-build device for optogenetically stimulating fruit fly larvae, enabling precise control of neuronal activity.

Contribution

The paper introduces a low-cost, customizable optogenetics chamber for use in Drosophila larval studies.

Findings

OptoChamber successfully enabled optogenetic stimulation of larval Drosophila motor neurons.

The device supports activity-dependent remodeling assays in Drosophila embryos.

The system is easy to assemble and cost-effective compared to commercial alternatives.

Abstract

Optogenetics is a powerful tool used to manipulate physiological processes in animals through cell-specific expression of genetically modified channelrhodopsins. In
Drosophila melanogaster,
optogenetics is frequently used for temporal control of neuronal activation or silencing through light-dependent actuation of cation and anion channelrhodopsins, respectively. The high setup costs and complexity associated with commercially available optogenetic systems prevents many investigators from exploring the use of this technology. We developed a low-cost, customizable, and easy-to-make optogenetics chamber (OptoChamber) and verified its functionality in a robust cellular assay: activity-dependent remodeling of larval motor neurons in
Drosophila
embryos.

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