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Figure 2


Fig. 2. Experimental apparatus for evaluation of thoracic spiracle seals. (A) The thorax of Drosophila is sliced into halves along the sagittal plane and mounted on top of a flow-through respirometric chamber. Flight musculature is removed and the metathoracic spiracle is permanently sealed by epoxy glue. A 0.5 mm hole in the wall of the respirometric chamber permits ambient gas to be pulled through the open mesothoracic spiracle inside the chamber. A bell-shaped gas outlet mounted above the chamber allows alterations in ambient CO2 concentration by connecting the gas tubing either to pressurized room air or to a CO2 reservoir using an electric valve. (B) Example of how gas flux through the open mesothoracic spiracle varies while alternately connecting the gas tubing to room air (grey) and CO2 (blue). Measuring units are given in parts-per-million analysed air (p.p.m.). (C) The mesothoracic spiracle seal completely blocks CO2 flux into the respirometric chamber. (D) Removing the spiracle seal from the mesothoracic spiracle after testing restores spiracle conductance for carbon dioxide (same thorax half in B–D).





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