Identification and characterization of second-order taste neurons in Drosophila

神经科学中的一个主要问题是，动物如何将感觉输入转化为运动输出。一个 解决这个问题的特别好的系统是果蝇味觉(味觉)系统， 因为初级的糖感觉神经元以及引发摄食的运动神经元 都有很好的特点。当一只饥饿的苍蝇遇到可口的食物时，它会伸长鼻子 并开始进食。因为主感觉输入和运动输出都位于接近的位置 果蝇脑的食道下带(SEZ)中彼此接近的局部回路 在经济特区很可能支配着喂养决定。这项提议意在识别二次品味 可能连接感觉输入和运动输出的神经元。激活7个不同的候选人 二级味觉神经元，类似于初级糖感觉神经元的激活，是 足以产生摄食行为。因此，到目前为止确定的候选神经元可能是 参与从感觉输入到运动输出的通路。为了分析第二个角色- 味觉神经元在进食中的作用顺序，Aim 1将决定两者之间的解剖连接 一阶味觉神经元和候选二阶神经元，目标2将确定刺激 第二级神经元做出反应，目标3将决定第二级- 有序神经元起着中介作用。通过识别和描述二级味觉神经元，这一点 提案将为理解基本感官信息是如何整合的奠定基础 通过饥饿等内在暗示，转化为进食等行为。对喂食的理解 昆虫的决策可能为如何防止疾病的传播提供洞察力，例如 依赖昆虫媒介的疟疾。此外，因为苍蝇对类似的线索做出反应 哺乳动物，如令人开胃的糖类物质和苦味毒素，理解 基础喂食可能有助于揭示与人类喂食相关的疾病，如肥胖和 糖尿病。

A major question in neuroscience is how animals translate sensory input into motor output. A particularly good system to address this question is the Drosophila gustatory (taste) system, since both the primary sugar-sensing neurons as well as the motor neurons that elicit feeding are well characterized. When a hungry fly encounters appetizing food, it extends its proboscis and begins feeding. As both the primary sensory inputs and motor outputs are located in close proximity to each other in the subesophageal zone (SEZ) of the Drosophila brain, local circuits in the SEZ likely govern feeding decisions. This proposal intends to identify second-order taste neurons that may bridge sensory inputs and motor outputs. Activation of 7 different candidate second-order taste neurons, similar to activation of the primary sugar sensing neurons, is sufficient to generate feeding behavior. Thus, candidate neurons identified thus far may be involved in the pathway from sensory input to motor output. To analyze the role that second- order taste neurons play in feeding, Aim 1 will determine the anatomical connectivity between first-order taste neurons and candidate second-order neurons, Aim 2 will determine the stimuli that second-order neurons respond to, and Aim 3 will determine the behaviors that second- order neurons mediate. By identifying and characterizing second-order taste neurons, this proposal will build the foundation for understanding how basic sensory information is integrated with internal cues, such as hunger, into behaviors like feeding. An understanding of feeding decisions in insects may provide insights into how to prevent the spread of diseases such as malaria that depend on an insect vector. Furthermore, because flies respond to similar cues as mammals, such as appetizing sugar substances and bitter toxins, understanding the circuits that underlie feeding may shed light into human feeding related disorders such as obesity and diabetes.