Ramachandran, PreethiBudnik, Vivian2022-08-232022-08-232010-08-012012-05-24Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2010 Aug 1;2010(8):pdb.prot5469. doi: 10.1101/pdb.prot5469.1559-6095 (Electronic)10.1101/pdb.prot546920679378https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/37869<p>First author Preethi Ramachandran is a doctoral student in the Neuroscience Program in the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) at UMass Medical School.</p>Over the last two decades, the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction has gained immense popularity as a model system for the study of synaptic development, function, and plasticity. With this model, it is easy to visualize synapses and manipulate the system genetically with a high degree of temporal and spatial control, which makes it ideal for resolving problems in synaptic physiology and development. A number of different techniques have been used to dissect third-instar larval preparations to expose the body-wall muscles. Here, we describe a procedure that uses magnetic chambers and pins to allow for fine control in spreading the larval body wall.en-USAnimalsDissectionDrosophila melanogasterLarvaMagneticsMusclesDevelopmental NeuroscienceMolecular and Cellular NeuroscienceJournal Articlehttps://escholarship.umassmed.edu/neurobiology_pp/142911129neurobiology_pp/14