Transient and long-term effects of temperature on electrogenic activity of Drosophila nerves and muscles

Electrical responses of indirect flight muscles in Drosophila fruit flies are markedly affected by a 10 degree C increment from ambient temperature: refractory period of evoked neuromuscular responses is shortened with temperature elevation due to effects on neuronal components. Excitation threshold of these muscle fibers increases transiently during elevation of temperature, while the frequency of directly-evoked muscle spikes increases gradually. These temperature-induced changes are reversible upon lowering the temperature back to ambient temperature.