Techniques: fruit flies as models for neuropharmacological research.

An unlikely animal model is gaining popularity in neuropharmacological research: the 2-mm fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). Drugs have been administered to adult flies in their food and, more recently, via gasses and injections. Pharmacological tools have introduced behavioral alterations in Drosophila reminiscent of human behavior, rescued flies from gene-alteration-triggered neuropathologies, and triggered gene silencing. Combined, these methods hold promise for significant neuropharmacological advancement.