Assessing senescence in Drosophila using video tracking

Abstract

Senescence is associated with changes in gene expression, including the upregulation of stress responseand innate immune response-related genes. In addition, aging animals exhibit characteristic changes in movement behaviors including decreased gait speed and a deterioration in sleep/wake rhythms. Here, we describe methods for tracking Drosophila melanogaster movements in 3D with simultaneous quantification of fluorescent transgenic reporters. This approach allows for the assessment of correlations between behavior, aging, and gene expression as well as for the quantification of biomarkers of aging. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013.