Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most useful invertebrate models in the research of both normal and pathologic physiology of the human heart. The larvae have a dorsal tubular vessel, which has three pairs of ostiolar valves and one intracardiac aortic valve. In contrast to the existence of extensive knowledge on the genetics of cardiac control, little is known about its pumping mechanics and the activity of its ostia cells and much it is assumed. We strongly believe that we provide enough evidence to doubt about the passive nature attributed to the ostiolar cells. We got unique images of the larval heart and of its ostiolar cells in action. Moreover, we can say now that the Drosophila larva heart contracts and expands as a whole, as in the embryo. Its heart is not peristaltic.
Contestants
Juan Sánchez Mateos
Claudia Rodríguez Rodríguez
Biology
Country
Spain