Structural homeostasis: compensatory adjustments of dendritic arbor geometry in response to variations of synaptic input.

ABSTRACT: As the nervous system develops, there is an inherent variability in the connections formed between differentiating neurons. Despite this variability, neural circuits form that are functional and remarkably robust. One way in which neurons deal with variability in their inputs is through compensatory, homeostatic changes in their electrical properties. Here, we show that neurons also make compensatory adjustments to their structure. We analysed the development of dendrites on an identified central neuron (aCC) in the late Drosophila embryo at the stage when it receives its first connections and first becomes electrically active. At the same time, we charted the distribution of presynaptic sites on the developing postsynaptic arbor. Genetic manipulations of the presynaptic partners demonstra

SUBMITTER: Tripodi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2573934 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature