This study is designed to determine whether nerve cell to nerve cell interactions direct or influence the short cell body projections called dendrites and the synaptic connectivity between nerve cells which takes place in the central nervous system during development. Cell to cell interactions as well as steroid hormones have been implicated in regulating the postembryonic structure of nerve cells. This study uses the moth to examine individual nerve cells during hormonally-controlled metamorphosis. Hormonal, surgical and chemical manipulations are used to determine if the interactions between nerve cells trigger or shape the growth of dendrites on the cell body. Electrophysiological and morphological methods are used to define the changes that take place in dendritic growth. These studies will contribute to our understanding of how nerve cells interact and how hormones affect nerve cell structure during development.
