The Effects of Eugenol as an Anesthetic for an Insect: Drosophila, Adults, Larval Heart Rate, and Synaptic Transmission

 

Kristin Weineck, Alexandra Stanback, & Robin L. Cooper

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2019, Volume 40

Abstract

The examination of the active ingredient in clove oil, eugenol, as an anesthetic for use on Drosophila melanogaster was performed. Drosophila melanogaster adult flies were anesthetized with a simple flow through apparatus and they recovered to perform behavioral tests without any defects. Larvae did not become completely anesthetized even with longer exposure periods than adults; however, they did show reduced body wall movements and mouth hook movements. Application of 100ppm in physiological saline directly on the larval heart and neuromuscular junction reduced the heart rate and evoked synaptic transmission. No effect on the postsynaptic glutamate receptors was observed. It is likely eugenol blocks ionic sodium and calcium channels directly and can readily be reversed without any long term consequences in function. Thus, eugenol may serve as an alternative to CO2 or cold as an anesthetic.

Keywords:  anesthesia, behavior, Drosophila melanogaster, neuromuscular junction, larva, heart rate, cardiac

The Ohio State University (2018)