Mechanically Injuring <em>Drosophila</em> Larvae Segmental Nerves to Induce Neurodegeneration

Source: Danella, E. B., et al. A Simple Neuronal Mechanical Injury Methodology to Study Drosophila Motor Neuron Degeneration. J. Vis. Exp. (2017). The video demonstrates inducing neurodegeneration in Drosophila larva segmental nerves via mechanical injury. The ventral cuticle of anesthetized larvae is pinched using forceps to cause injury to the segmental nerves. The injured larvae are maintained with food, allowing the injury to cause degeneration of the motor neurons in the nerves, causing disruption of their neuromuscular junctions (NMJs).