Use of Drosophila melanogaster larvae to evaluate cardioactive peptides

Conopeptides are found in the venom of marine cone snails, aiding in the paralysis of their prey, and have been shown to have potential therapeutic uses in humans. Conopressins are conopeptides that target vasopressin/oxytocin receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells that are found within blood vessels. The crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) is a homologous peptide found in crustaceans and has been shown to behave as a cardioaccelerator in a homologous system. This study describes the effects of CCAP in Drosophila larvae. We find that CCAP has an inotropic effect by causing a change in the contraction of blood vessels. We further investigate the effects of another possibly cardioactive conopeptide, γ-conopressin-vil, in Drosophila larvae. Elucidating the effects of conopetides in Drosophila larvae may translate to cardioactive therapeutic uses in mammalian systems.