Development of motoneuron electrical properties and motor output

Technical advances now make possible the application of relatively sophisticated electrophysiology to the CNS of Drosophila embryos and larvae. The comparatively few studies that have, to date applied such techniques, provide compelling evidence to show that the development of central motoneurons, together with the molecular mechanisms that govern synaptic growth and plasticity, are remarkably similar to those already shown to operate at the NMJ. Moreover, the ability of Drosophila motoneurons to regulate their intrinsic excitability to compensate for sustained change in synaptic excitation parallels similar mechanisms known to function within the complexity of the mammalian CNS. Exploitation of the molecular tractability of Drosophila offers the exciting prospect of using this insect to fully identify the underlying molecules that mediate these fundamental properties of neurons. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.