Excitation and inhibition onto central courtship neurons biases Drosophila mate choice.
Excitation and inhibition onto central courtship neurons biases Drosophila mate choice.
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DOI：
10.7554/elife.11188
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发表时间：
2015-11-14
期刊：
影响因子：
7.7
通讯作者：
Scott K
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kallman BR;Kim H;Scott K
区分雄性和雌性的能力对于有效的配偶选择和物种繁殖是必不可少的。最近在果蝇的研究已经确定了不同类别的接触化学感觉神经元，检测女性或男性信息素和影响求爱的决定。在这里，我们使用解剖学、钙成像、光遗传学和行为研究来检查男性大脑中处理女性和男性信息素的中枢神经通路。我们发现，感觉神经元，检测女性信息素，但不是男性信息素，激活一类新的神经元在腹神经索引起激活P1神经元，男性特定的命令神经元，触发求爱。此外，感觉神经元检测男性信息素，以及那些检测女性信息素，激活中央mAL神经元抑制P1。这些研究表明，对中央求爱促进神经元的兴奋性和抑制性驱动的平衡控制着交配决定。DOI：http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11188.001求爱行为在动物王国随处可见。例如，雄性极乐鸟可能最出名的是它们用来吸引配偶的精心制作的舞蹈。雄性果蝇，属于黑腹果蝇，也会向雌性果蝇求爱。然而，雄性果蝇不会向其他雄性求爱。先前的研究表明，性别特异性化学信号（或信息素）是雄性用来指导向雌性求爱的重要线索。研究人员之前已经确定了两组检测信息素的感觉神经元：一组检测雌性信息素并促进求爱，而另一组检测雄性信息素并抑制求爱。然而，目前还不清楚这些感觉神经元是如何控制求偶行为的。现在，卡尔曼等人研究了果蝇中的神经元回路，当果蝇检测到信息素时，这些神经元回路会促进或抑制求偶。这些实验确定了雄性果蝇大脑中神经元对雌性和雄性信息素做出反应的几种途径。这些通路发送信号，激发或抑制称为P1神经元的中央目标。雌性信息素激活了一条激活P1神经元的通路，而雄性信息素激活了另一条抑制P1神经元的通路。Kallman等人认为，这些兴奋和抑制信号的平衡控制着苍蝇的求偶决定。接下来的挑战之一将是确定P1神经元下游的神经回路来控制求爱。未来的研究还可以探索P1神经元如何整合来自不同感官的信号。DOI：http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11188.002网站
The ability to distinguish males from females is essential for productive mate selection and species propagation. Recent studies in Drosophila have identified different classes of contact chemosensory neurons that detect female or male pheromones and influence courtship decisions. Here, we examine central neural pathways in the male brain that process female and male pheromones using anatomical, calcium imaging, optogenetic, and behavioral studies. We find that sensory neurons that detect female pheromones, but not male pheromones, activate a novel class of neurons in the ventral nerve cord to cause activation of P1 neurons, male-specific command neurons that trigger courtship. In addition, sensory neurons that detect male pheromones, as well as those that detect female pheromones, activate central mAL neurons to inhibit P1. These studies demonstrate that the balance of excitatory and inhibitory drives onto central courtship-promoting neurons controls mating decisions. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11188.001 Courtship displays are seen throughout the animal kingdom. For example, male birds-of-paradise are perhaps best known for the elaborate dances they use to attract a mate. Male fruit flies, belonging to the species Drosophila melanogaster, also perform courtship toward female flies. However, male flies do not court other males. Previous studies have shown that sex-specific chemical signals (or pheromones) are important cues that males use to direct courtship towards females. Researchers have previously identified two sets of sensory neurons that detect pheromones: one set detects female pheromones and promotes courtship, while the other detects male pheromones and inhibits courtship. However it was unclear how these sensory neurons controlled courtship behavior. Now, Kallman et al. have studied the circuits of neurons in the fruit fly that promote or inhibit courtship when a fly detects a pheromone. The experiments identified several pathways of neurons in the brain of male Drosophila that respond to female and male pheromones. These pathways send signals that either excite or inhibit a central target, called P1 neurons. Female pheromones activated a pathway that activates the P1 neurons, whereas male pheromones activate another pathway that inhibits the P1 neurons. Kallman et al. suggest that the balance of these excitatory and inhibitory signals controls a fly’s decision to court. Following on from this work one of the next challenges will be to identify the neural circuits that act downstream of the P1 neurons to control courtship. Future studies could also explore how P1 neurons integrate signals from different senses. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11188.002