Drosophila dendrites are resilient to adult-onset deficits in mitochondrial dynamics.

Adult-onset deficits in mitochondrial transport and fusion in Drosophila HS neurons deplete mitochondria from dendrites without affecting dendrite morphology or function.

• Why it matters: Understanding whether mitochondrial dynamics are essential for maintaining neuronal structure and function in mature neurons can reveal targets for neurodegenerative disease interventions.
• What they did: The study used in vivo imaging to induce adult-restricted impairments in mitochondrial transport and fusion in Drosophila HS neurons, assessing effects on mitochondrial localization, ATP regulation, and dendrite integrity.
• The result: Findings show mature dendrites can preserve morphology and function despite mitochondrial depletion, contrasting with developmental perturbations that cause dendrite degeneration, highlighting a developmental window for mitochondrial influence.