In lz216, sensilla basiconica are totally absent while the sensilla trichoidea are reduced to about 20. Or22a and Or47a do not express in these antennae, while Avic\GFP2x.EGFP.Scer\UAS expression, under the control of Scer\GAL4Or47b.7.467, is detected in a smaller number of sensilla trichoidea, some of which are located in ectopic positions.
The number of sense organ founder cells seen in the antennal disc 10 hours after pupariation is reduced compared to wild-type.
Flies have strong defects in the eye, antenna and maxillary palps. The facets are completely fused and the eye surface appears as a mass of tissue with strikingly reduced bristles. There is very little residual eye pigment. Recruitment of the photoreceptor clusters and progression of the morphogenetic furrow proceeds normally, although in late discs the number of axons in the optic stalk appears reduced and they appear damaged. Pupal eye discs contain significantly greater numbers of apoptotic cells compared to wild-type discs. There are gross changes in the arrangement of photoreceptors and the pigment layer is disorganised in the optic lobe. The morphology of the lamina appears normal. The basiconic sensilla of the antenna fail to develop, and the number of trichoid sensilla on the antenna is reduced. Females show a greater reduction in trichoid sensilla than males. A small decrease in the number of sensilla coeloconica on the antenna is apparent. The maxillary palps show a striking reduction in the numbers of normal basiconic-like sensilla. The socket and sensory neurons of these mutant sensilla appear normal.
