Maintenance and regulation of extracellular volume and the ion environment in XXXX larval nerves.

@entity1 @entity238
In mammals and insects, paracellular blood barriers isolate the nervous system from the rest of the animal. Glia and accessory cells of the nervous system use pumps, channels, cotransporters, and exchangers collectively to maintain the extracellular ion environment and osmotic balance in the nervous system. At present, the molecular mechanisms that regulate this process remain unclear. In @entity1 , loss of extracellular ion and volume regulation in the nervous system poses serious health threats. @entity238 is a model genetic organism with a proven track record for uncovering molecular mechanisms relevant to @entity1 health and disease. Here, we review what is known about extracellular ion and volume regulation in larval abdominal nerves, present some new data about the impact of neural activity on the extracellular environment, and relate the findings to @entity1 systems. Homologies have been found at the level of morphology, physiology, molecular mechanisms, and mutant phenotypes. The Fray-Ncc69 module regulates extracellular volume in larval nerves. Genetic rescue experiments with the @entity1 orthologs prove this module has a direct correlate in @entity1 . This and other molecular homologies, together with the similar physiological needs, suggest that uncovering the molecular mechanisms of ion and volume regulation in larval nerves will likely provide significant insights into this process in @entity1 systems.
