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The Journal of Neuroscience, November 3, 2004, 24(44):9826-9837; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3189-04.2004

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Development/Plasticity/Repair
Activity Affects Dendritic Shape and Synapse Elimination during Steroid Controlled Dendritic Retraction in Manduca sexta

Carsten Duch and Tim Mentel

Institute of Biology and Neurobiology, Free University Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany

Insect metamorphosis is a compelling example for dendritic and synaptic remodeling as larval and adult behaviors place distinct demands on the CNS. During the metamorphosis of the moth, Manduca sexta, many larval motoneurons are remodeled to serve a new function in the adult. During late larval life, steroid hormones trigger axonal and dendritic regression as well as larval synapse elimination. These regressive events are accompanied by stereotypical changes in motor behavior during the so-called wandering stages. Both normally occurring changes in dendritic shape and in motor output have previously been analyzed quantitatively for the individually identified motoneuron MN5. This study tested whether activity affected steroid-induced dendritic regression and synapse disassembly in MN5 by means of chronically implanted extracellular electrodes. Stimulating MN5 in vivo in intact, normally developing animals during a developmental period when it usually shows no activity significantly slowed the regression of high-order dendrites. Both physiological and anatomical analysis demonstrated that reduced dendritic regression was accompanied by a significant reduction in larval synapse disassembly. Therefore, steroid-induced alterations of dendritic shape and synaptic connectivity are modified by activity-dependent mechanisms. This interaction might be a common mechanism for rapid adjustments of rigid, inflexible, hormonal programs.

Key words: ecdysis; activity-dependent development; insect; neuromuscular system; motor terminal; hormone

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Received April 21, 2004; revised September 13, 2004; accepted September 14, 2004.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. F. Evers, S. Schmitt, M. Sibila, and C. Duch Progress in Functional Neuroanatomy: Precise Automatic Geometric Reconstruction of Neuronal Morphology From Confocal Image Stacks J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2005; 93(4): 2331 - 2342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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