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Glial dependent survival of neurons in Drosophila
Author(s) -
Shepherd David
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-1878(200005)22:5<407::aid-bies1>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - neurogenesis , biology , neuroscience , embryonic stem cell , neuron , insect , vertebrate , drosophila (subgenus) , nervous system , cell , cell lineage , cellular differentiation , genetics , ecology , gene
Abstract According to the classical model of insect neurogenesis, neuron fate and survival is determined largely by cell autonomous mechanisms with no requirement for cell‐cell interactions to control the total number of neurons. In a recent paper by Booth et al.,(1) however, the central tenet of this model has been called into question. Using a combination of mutations and targeted glial ablation, this paper shows that, contrary to common thinking, neuron survival in the embryonic nervous system of Drosophila is dependent upon normal glial function. This surprising result suggests that insect neurogenesis may have more in common with vertebrate neurogenesis than previously thought. BioEssays 22:407—409, 2000. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.