Electroretinograms as a functional readout of neuronal integrity in neurodegeneration models of Drosophila melanogaster

The current protocol leverages the intrinsic potential of electroretinograms (ERGs) in Drosophila melanogaster, extending their application by using aged flies and the GAL4- UAS system to attempt to understand human gene effects on neuronal transmission. ERGs model neuronal vulnerability and developmental changes, providing a robust tool for examining altered neurological states. The current protocols sheds insights into the strengths and pitfalls in the analysis of human gene pathways in progression of neurodegenerative states, with additional information on novel parameters that can be tapped. This technique enhances our ability to use neurophysiological recordings for gaining insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of the gene in neuronal function, thus complementing ex vivo and in vitro systems using mouse and cell culture models. - Genetics and aging to studying neurodegeneration- Traditional ERG parameters - Additional parameters. Our technique builds on the robust background of several techniques to provide additional parameters such as aging the flies (1-5 weeks) and the response characteristics associated with creating transgenic models using the w1118 background. Lastly, we also provide a different way to explore the results by identifying zones and derivatives that may improve our electrophysiological of the genetic influences on neuronal responses better.