Survival of olfactory memory through metamorphosis in the fly Musca domestica

Metamorphosis in the fly (Musca domestica) involves extensive lysis, neurog enesis and reorganization of neural tissue. Despite this, two experiments a re reported which show aspects of larval memory persist into the adult form . Experimental larvae were reared in sawdust scented with aversive odours ( mint or geraniol). Control larvae were reared on plain sawdust. In blind po st-metamorphosis testing using a Y maze, adult flies showed a preference fo r the specific odour to which the larvae had been exposed. Control flies fo und both test odours aversive. A second experiment explores the possible ro le of cell survival through metamorphosis as a mechanism of the persistence of memory. Cells from trained donor flies when grafted into untrained reci pients produced specific changes in recipient odour preference reflecting t he donor larvae training. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.