High male brain expression of TSPO associated with increased ethanol sensitivity in male neuronal dTSPO knockdown flies.

<p>(A) Levels of dTSPO mRNA in the heads of elav-GS/+; TSPO-IR/+ male and female flies with or without RU486 dsRNA induction, n = 3 groups of flies tested. Data presented as mean ± SEM. *** p < 0.001. (B-D) Gene switch and control flies with or without RU486 (elav-GS/+ = elav-GeneSwitch and TSPO-IR/+ = UAS-dTSPO-RNAi). To induce gene switch, the flies were raised on regular food with 50 μl of 4 mg/ml RU486 added on the surface of the food in vials for three days. (B) Sensitivity of elav-GS/+;TSPO-IR/+ flies to 44% ethanol vapor with and without RU486, half sedation time with RU486 was 16.0±0.6 min and without RU486 was 23.3±1.5, p < 0.001, n = 10. (C) Sensitivity of flies harboring elav-GS/+ with or without RU486 exposed to 44% ethanol vapor, half sedation time with RU486 was 14.0±0.5 min and without RU486 was 15.3±0.9, p > 0.05, n = 13, vials tested. (D) Sensitivity of flies harboring only TSPO-IR/+ exposed to 44% ethanol and with and without RU486, half sedation time with RU486 was 25.0±2.0 min and without RU486 was 22.5±1.0, p > 0.05, n = 10.