Programmed cell death reshapes the central nervous system during metamorphosis in insects.

Abstract

Metamorphosis is fascinating and dramatic stage of postembryonic development in insects [1]. The most prominent metamorphic changes seen in holometabolous insects involve destruction of most larval structures and concomitant generation of adult ones. Such diverse cellular events are orchestrated by ecdysone. The central nervous system (CNS) is also extensively remodeled to process new sensory inputs; to coordinate new types of locomotion; and to perform higher-order decision making [2]. Programmed cell death (PCD) is an integral part of the metamorphic development. It eliminates obsolete larval tissues and extra cells that are generated from the morphogenesis of adult tissues. In the CNS, PCD of selected neurons and glial cells as well as reshaping of persistent larval cells are essential for establishing the adult CNS. In this review, we summarize the ecdysone signaling, and then molecular and cellular events associated with PCD primarily in the metamorphosing CNS of Drosophila melanogaster.