Overexpression of Rheb in the mushroom bodies results in enlarged axonal lobes.

<p>(A) A Z-stack projection of GAL4-driven membrane-bound GFP (CD8::GFP; green) in the mushroom body lobes of a 1 day post-eclosion (PE) fly using the <i>OK107</i> driver. The mushroom body is subdivided into α, α′, β, β′ and γ lobes. The <i>OK107</i> driver also produces expression in the nearby insulin producing cells (IPCs; arrowhead). (B) All lobes of a 1 day PE mushroom body expressing CD8::GFP and Rheb are expanded. (C) 21 days PE mushroom body lobes from control animals (CD8::GFP only). (D) Grossly enlarged 21 days PE mushroom body lobes expressing both CD8::GFP and Rheb. Scale bars are 30 µm. (E) Quantification of the average approximate neuropil volume, using the ImageJ Measure Stack volume plugin. Neuropil of neurons overexpressing Rheb are significantly larger than controls at both 1 and 21 days PE (N = 13–35, ANOVA, p = 0), but there is no significant difference between control groups of different ages (p>0.05 ) or between the two groups overexpressing Rheb (p>0.05). * indicates significance between bracketed columns. Error bars represent SE.