Developmental arrest of Drosophila larvae elicits presynaptic depression and enables prolonged studies of neurodegeneration.
Development
; 147(10)2020 05 21.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32345746
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 5â
days, arrested third instar (ATI) larvae persist for 35â
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 homeostatic reduction in presynaptic neurotransmitter release. Arrest of the larval stage in stathmin mutants also reveals a degree of progressive instability and neurodegeneration that was not apparent during the typical larval period. Hence, an adaptive form of presynaptic depression stabilizes neurotransmission during an extended developmental period of unconstrained synaptic growth. More generally, the ATI manipulation provides a powerful system for studying neurodegeneration and plasticity across prolonged developmental timescales.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Depresión Sináptica a Largo Plazo
/
Drosophila
/
Larva
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Degeneración Nerviosa
/
Unión Neuromuscular
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Development
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
EMBRIOLOGIA
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos