Gene expression in Drosophila female heads during diapause.

Young Drosophila females respond to low temperature and short photoperiod by developmental arrest of the ovaries. This form of reproductive diapause is a winter adaptation. Here we used Affymetrix microarrays to study global expression in female heads associated with diapause. Within 8 hr after eclosion, flies were transferred to vials and maintained in light boxes illuminated by a 4W fluorescent bulb at 12.5°C under light-dark cycle (LD) 14:10. After 12 days, flies were dissected and ovaries status (diapause vs. non-diapause) was determined.