Neuropeptide F regulates courtship in <i>Drosophila</i> through a male-specific neuronal circuit.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 31403399.
- Also identified by DOI 10.7554/eLife.49574 and PMC identifier 6721794.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Male courtship is provoked by perception of a potential mate. In addition, the likelihood and intensity of courtship are influenced by recent mating experience, which affects sexual drive. Using <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>, we found that the homolog of mammalian neuropeptide Y, neuropeptide F (NPF), and a cluster of male-specific NPF (NPF<sup>M</sup>) neurons, regulate courtship through affecting courtship drive. Disrupting NPF signaling produces sexually hyperactive males, which are resistant to sexual satiation, and whose courtship is triggered by sub-optimal stimuli. We found that NPF<sup>M</sup> neurons make synaptic connections with P1 neurons, which comprise the courtship decision center. Activation of P1 neurons elevates NPF<sup>M</sup> neuronal activity, which then act through NPF receptor neurons to suppress male courtship, and maintain the proper level of male courtship drive.
Medical subject headings
- Courtship
- Drosophila Proteins
- Drosophila melanogaster
- Neural Pathways
- Neuropeptides