Developmental role of GABAB(1) receptors in Drosophila

Previously, an RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown of GABA(B(1)) subunit in adult Drosophila was used for behavioral studies. Here we report on developmental deficits caused by embryonic Drosophila GABA(B(1)) RNAi and drug antagonism. Injecting embryos with CGP54626 (a GABA(B) receptor antagonist) reduced hatching and caused lethality. Similar effects were produced by injecting embryos with GABA(B(1)) double-stranded RNA (RNAi). The surviving GABA(B(1)) RNAi larvae were significantly smaller than controls and showed a peculiar phenotype; their tracheae were folded. Our results suggest that GABA(B) receptors are required for normal development and that the Drosophila model could be used to investigate the participating molecular mechanisms. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.