A critical period of late embryonic development in Drosophila has been determined during which manipulation of neural activity is sufficient to significantly influence seizure behavior at postembryonic stages. Increasing neuronal excitation during this period in wild-type animals is sufficient to permanently induce seizure-sensitive behavior. In a seizure-sensitive genotype, inhibition of elevated activity during the critical period is sufficient to suppress seizure sensitivity in later stages.
Using mutations of Dmel\Nos and pharmaceutical interventions, nitric oxide signaling has been identified as a key mediator of neural activity during this period.
[updated Feb. 2022 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]