Mechanosensitive neurons on the internal reproductive tract contribute to egg-laying-induced acetic acid attraction in Drosophila.
Abstract
Selecting a suitable site to deposit their eggs is an important reproductive need
of Drosophila females. Although their choosiness toward egg-laying sites is well documented,
the specific neural mechanism that activates females' search for attractive egg-laying
sites is not known. Here, we show that distention and contraction of females' internal
reproductive tract triggered by egg delivery through the tract plays a critical role
in activating such search. We found that females start to exhibit acetic acid (AA)
attraction prior to depositing each egg but no attraction when they are not laying
eggs. Artificially distending the reproductive tract triggers AA attraction in non-egg-laying
females, whereas silencing the mechanosensitive neurons we identified that can sense
the contractile status of the tract eliminates such attraction. Our work uncovers
the circuit basis of an important reproductive need of Drosophila females and provides
a simple model for dissecting the neural mechanism that underlies a reproductive need-induced
behavioral modification.
Type
Journal articleSubject
Acetic AcidAnimals
Drosophila
Drosophila Proteins
Female
Mechanoreceptors
Oviducts
Oviposition
Sodium Channels
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/9191Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1016/j.celrep.2014.09.033Publication Info
Gou, B; Liu, Y; Guntur, A; Stern, U; & Yang, C (2014). Mechanosensitive neurons on the internal reproductive tract contribute to egg-laying-induced
acetic acid attraction in Drosophila. Cell Rep, 9(2). pp. 522-530. 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.09.033. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/9191.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Rebecca Chung-Hui Yang
Associate Professor of Neurobiology
Our lab is interested in understanding the neural basis of simple decision-making
processes. We use Drosophila egg-laying site selection as our model system. To understand
how the Drosophila brain assesses and ranks the values of egg-laying options, we use
a combined approach that includes high-throughput optogenetics-based behavioral screen,
automated (machine vision) behavioral tracking of single animals, molecular genetic
tools to identify critical circuit compone

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