A Neural Circuit Encoding the Experience of Copulation in Female Drosophila

Neuron. 2019 Jun 5;102(5):1025-1036.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.04.009. Epub 2019 May 6.

Abstract

Female behavior changes profoundly after mating. In Drosophila, the mechanisms underlying the long-term changes led by seminal products have been extensively studied. However, the effect of the sensory component of copulation on the female's internal state and behavior remains elusive. We pursued this question by dissociating the effect of coital sensory inputs from those of male ejaculate. We found that the sensory inputs of copulation cause a reduction of post-coital receptivity in females, referred to as the "copulation effect." We identified three layers of a neural circuit underlying this phenomenon. Abdominal neurons expressing the mechanosensory channel Piezo convey the signal of copulation to female-specific ascending neurons, LSANs, in the ventral nerve cord. LSANs relay this information to neurons expressing myoinhibitory peptides in the brain. We hereby provide a neural mechanism by which the experience of copulation facilitates females encoding their mating status, thus adjusting behavior to optimize reproduction.

Keywords: Drosophila melanogaster; copulation effect; female receptivity; mating experience; mechanosensation; myoinhibitory peptide; piezo; reproductive behavior; sex peptide receptor; sexual selection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / physiology
  • Copulation / physiology*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins / physiology
  • Drosophila melanogaster
  • Female
  • Ganglia, Sensory / metabolism
  • Ganglia, Sensory / physiology
  • Ion Channels / metabolism*
  • Ion Channels / physiology
  • Mechanotransduction, Cellular / physiology*
  • Neural Pathways
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Ion Channels
  • Piezo protein, Drosophila
  • myoinhibitory peptide, Drosophila