March 12, 2025 | Researchers find more synapses and postsynaptic partners in the brain of Drosophila melanogaster correlating to lower environmental temperature during pupal development.

The rate of development of poikilothermic animals, such as insects, fish, and reptiles, is determined by environmental temperature. A research team at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has recently demonstrated how temperature can affect brain development in fruit flies. “In the area of the brain we examined, neurons formed more synapses and connected to more synaptic partners at lower temperatures,” stated Dr. Carlotta Martelli, head of the team at the Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology of JGU. In their study, the scientists focused on the olfactory circuit of Drosophila melanogaster, because the sense of smell determines important behavioral patterns in these flies and is essential for their survival. They found that the temperature to which the insects are exposed to during the pupal stage has an effect not only on brain development but also on odor-driven behavior.

Source: JGU | Press and Public Relations