We dissected and isolated pharynxes from two
nlg-1 transcriptional reporter strains and established that there is no
nlg-1 expression in the pharynx or in its associated microcircuit. We found no co-expression of neuroligin in ADF and no expression in major sensory neuron classes, using specific markers for the following neurons: ASJ, AWB, AWC and ASE neurons. However, although neuroligin is not expressed in NSM we found expression in HSN neurons in the vulva area. Finally, to further investigate expression in a subset of sensory neurons we tried to identify neuroligin expression in the DiI labelled amphid neurons: ADL, ASH, ASI, ASJ, ASK, AWB: Again we found no neuroligin expression. However,
nlg-1 is expressed in a subset of
eat-4 glutamatergic neuron classes. In addition, neuroligin expression was localized specifically in a subset of dopaminergic sensory neurons, ADEs, which also are involved in food-dependent behaviours (Hills, Brockie et al. 2004), as well as in the bilateral interneurons AIY, that function to extend food-seeking periods (Shtonda and Avery 2006). Finally, by positional identification of cell bodies we found expression of
nlg-1 in the sensory neurons ALA and URX, as well as the interneuron AVJ.