Fig. 7

Ligament cells continue stretching ventrally in absence of sli. a. Cartoon depiction of stage 15 chordotonal organs with lch5 neurons (green) and ligament cells (red) located ventral to the lch5 neurons. All embryos labeled with anti-Elav (green) to mark lch5 neurons and anti-Repo (red) to mark ligament cells (b, c and e, f). b. Stage 15 WT embryo showing ligament cells (white arrow) directly ventral to the lch5 neurons (white arrowhead). c. sli² embryo showing lch5 neurons in irregular positions (white arrowheads) and ligament cells adjacent to the lch5 neurons, either dorsal or ventral to the lch5 neurons (white arrows). d. Cartoon depiction of stage 16 lch5 chordotonal organs with lch5 neurons (green) and ligament cells (red) stretched ventrally. e. Stage 16 WT embryo showing the lch5 neurons in their normal position facing dorsal-posterior (white arrowhead), and the ligament cells elongating and stretching ventrally (white arrows). f. sli² embryo showing the lch5 neurons in irregular positions (white arrowheads) and the ligament cells still in their proper position ventral to the lch5 neurons stretching ventrally (white arrows). The total number of abdominal lch5 clusters examined: WT (n = 45), sli² (n = 33)