Suppression of inherited muscle degeneration in a drosophila mutant by mechanical and genetical immobilizations

The aperC (abnormal proboscis extension reflex C) mutation of Drosophila causes the degeneration of a particular pair of head muscles involved in the proboscis extension. To define the mechanisms underlying the muscle degeneration, we studied the influence of use or disuse on the muscle degeneration by two kinds of immobilization experiments. In the first experiment, the rostrum was fixed onto the cranium and the extension of the proboscis was mechanically prevented. In the second experiment, we created an aperCaperA double mutant, genetically preventing proboscis extension with the aperA mutation. Both immobilizations suppressed the muscle degeneration in aperC mutant flies.