The end-systolic diameter (ESD) and end-diastolic diameter (EDD) of 5-day old flies expressing Hsap\HTT^{171aa.138Q.Scer\UAS.T:Ivir\HA1} under the control of Scer\GAL4^{Hand.ΔVM.Switch} (limited to the adult stages using 100ug/ml RU486) are increased compared to controls. The ESD and EDD are both significantly increased at 19 days.

When flies expressing Hsap\HTT^{171aa.138Q.Scer\UAS.T:Ivir\HA1} under the control of Scer\GAL4^{Hand.ΔVM.Switch} are raised on medium containing 2ug/ml RU486, adults are produced that have measurable dilated hearts at 5 and 19 days. Increases in ESD and EDD are seen. No heart dilatation is seen at 5 days in flies submitted to 20ng/ml RU treatment, but these flies show prominent heart impairment at 19 days. Feeding the flies methylene blue along with RU486 significantly rescues the heart dilatation at 5 days. At 19 days the ESD is significantly reduced but EDD is unchanged.

Flies expressing Hsap\HTT^{171aa.138Q.Scer\UAS.T:Ivir\HA1} either in neurons under the control of Scer\GAL4^Appl.PU or in glia under the control of Scer\GAL4^repo.PU show a strong deficit in mean lifespan compared to controls. This reduction in lifespan is not rescued by feeding the flies Methylene Blue, and is aggravated when Hsap\HTT^{171aa.138Q.Scer\UAS.T:Ivir\HA1} is expressed in neurons.

Expression of Hsap\HTT^{171aa.138Q.Scer\UAS.T:Ivir\HA1} in developing eyes under the control of Scer\GAL4^GMR.PF leads to adults with a loss of eye pigmentation and a rough eye phenotype. The rough eye phenotype is correlated with abnormal ommatidial arrays as detected by scanning electron microscopy.