Developmental arrest of Drosophila larvae elicits presynaptic depression and enables prolonged studies of neurodegeneration.

ABSTRACT: Synapses exhibit an astonishing degree of adaptive plasticity in healthy and disease states. We have investigated whether synapses also adjust to life stages imposed by novel developmental programs for which they were never molded by evolution. Under conditions in which Drosophila larvae are terminally arrested, we have characterized synaptic growth, structure and function at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Although wild-type larvae transition to pupae after 5 days, arrested third instar (ATI) larvae persist for 35 days, during which time NMJs exhibit extensive overgrowth in muscle size, presynaptic release sites and postsynaptic glutamate receptors. Remarkably, despite this exuberant growth, stable neurotransmission is maintained throughout the ATI lifespan through a potent homeo

SUBMITTER: Perry S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7325439 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature