Neuropeptide F regulates courtship in Drosophila through a male-specific neuronal circuit

作者：Weiwei Liu, Anindya Ganguly, Jia Huang, Yijin Wang, Jinfei D Ni, Adishthi S Gurav, Morris A. Aguilar, Craig Montell · 发表于：eLife · 年份：2019 · DOI：10.7554/elife.49574 · 被引用次数：60 · 研究领域：Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research、Animal Behavior and Reproduction、Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior

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 Drosophila melanogaster, we found that the homolog of mammalian neuropeptide Y, neuropeptide F (NPF), and a cluster of male-specific NPF (NPFM) 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 NPFM neurons make synaptic connections with P1 neurons, which comprise the courtship decision center. Activation of P1 neurons elevates NPFM neuronal activity, which then act through NPF receptor neurons to suppress male courtship, and maintain the proper level of male courtship drive.