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Pandey P, Shrestha B, Lee Y. Acid and Alkali Taste Sensation. Metabolites 2023; 13:1131. [PMID: 37999227 PMCID: PMC10673112 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13111131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Living organisms rely on pH levels for a multitude of crucial biological processes, such as the digestion of food and the facilitation of enzymatic reactions. Among these organisms, animals, including insects, possess specialized taste organs that enable them to discern between acidic and alkaline substances present in their food sources. This ability is vital, as the pH of these compounds directly influences both the nutritional value and the overall health impact of the ingested substances. In response to the various chemical properties of naturally occurring compounds, insects have evolved peripheral taste organs. These sensory structures play a pivotal role in identifying and distinguishing between nourishing and potentially harmful foods. In this concise review, we aim to provide an in-depth examination of the molecular mechanisms governing pH-dependent taste responses, encompassing both acidic and alkaline stimuli, within the peripheral taste organs of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, drawing insights from a comprehensive analysis of existing research articles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Youngseok Lee
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea; (P.P.); (B.S.)
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2
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Harmonic convergence coordinates swarm mating by enhancing mate detection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Sci Rep 2021; 11:24102. [PMID: 34916521 PMCID: PMC8677761 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03236-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The mosquito Anopheles gambiae is a major African malaria vector, transmitting parasites responsible for significant mortality and disease burden. Although flight acoustics are essential to mosquito mating and present promising alternatives to insecticide-based vector control strategies, there is limited data on mosquito flight tones during swarming. Here, for the first time, we present detailed analyses of free-flying male and female An. gambiae flight tones and their harmonization (harmonic convergence) over a complete swarm sequence. Audio analysis of single-sex swarms showed synchronized elevation of male and female flight tones during swarming. Analysis of mixed-sex swarms revealed additional 50 Hz increases in male and female flight tones due to mating activity. Furthermore, harmonic differences between male and female swarm tones in mixed-sex swarms and in single-sex male swarms with artificial female swarm audio playback indicate that frequency differences of approximately 50 Hz or less at the male second and female third harmonics (M2:F3) are maintained both before and during mating interactions. This harmonization likely coordinates male scramble competition by maintaining ideal acoustic recognition within mating pairs while acoustically masking phonotactic responses of nearby swarming males to mating females. These findings advance our knowledge of mosquito swarm acoustics and provide vital information for reproductive control strategies.
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Mechanosensory Stimulation via Nanchung Expressing Neurons Can Induce Daytime Sleep in Drosophila. J Neurosci 2021; 41:9403-9418. [PMID: 34635540 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0400-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuronal and genetic bases of sleep, a phenomenon considered crucial for well-being of organisms, has been under investigation using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster Although sleep is a state where sensory threshold for arousal is greater, it is known that certain kinds of repetitive sensory stimuli, such as rocking, can indeed promote sleep in humans. Here we report that orbital motion-aided mechanosensory stimulation promotes sleep of male and female Drosophila, independent of the circadian clock, but controlled by the homeostatic system. Mechanosensory receptor nanchung (Nan)-expressing neurons in the chordotonal organs mediate this sleep induction: flies in which these neurons are either silenced or ablated display significantly reduced sleep induction on mechanosensory stimulation. Transient activation of the Nan-expressing neurons also enhances sleep levels, confirming the role of these neurons in sleep induction. We also reveal that certain regions of the antennal mechanosensory and motor center in the brain are involved in conveying information from the mechanosensory structures to the sleep centers. Thus, we show, for the first time, that a circadian clock-independent pathway originating from peripherally distributed mechanosensors can promote daytime sleep of flies Drosophila melanogaster SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Our tendency to fall asleep in moving vehicles or the practice of rocking infants to sleep suggests that slow rhythmic movement can induce sleep, although we do not understand the mechanistic basis of this phenomenon. We find that gentle orbital motion can induce behavioral quiescence even in flies, a highly genetically tractable system for sleep studies. We demonstrate that this is indeed true sleep based on its rapid reversibility by sensory stimulation, enhanced arousal threshold, and homeostatic control. Furthermore, we demonstrate that mechanosensory neurons expressing a TRPV channel nanchung, located in the antennae and chordotonal organs, mediate orbital motion-induced sleep by communicating with antennal mechanosensory motor centers, which in turn may project to sleep centers in the brain.
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Gomulski LM, Manni M, Carraretto D, Nolan T, Lawson D, Ribeiro JM, Malacrida AR, Gasperi G. Transcriptional variation of sensory-related genes in natural populations of Aedes albopictus. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:547. [PMID: 32767966 PMCID: PMC7430840 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-06956-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is a highly dangerous invasive vector of numerous medically important arboviruses including dengue, chikungunya and Zika. In four decades it has spread from tropical Southeast Asia to many parts of the world in both tropical and temperate climes. The rapid invasion process of this mosquito is supported by its high ecological and genetic plasticity across different life history traits. Our aim was to investigate whether wild populations, both native and adventive, also display transcriptional genetic variability for functions that may impact their biology, behaviour and ability to transmit arboviruses, such as sensory perception. RESULTS Antennal transcriptome data were derived from mosquitoes from a native population from Ban Rai, Thailand and from three adventive Mediterranean populations: Athens, Greece and Arco and Trento from Italy. Clear inter-population differential transcriptional activity was observed in different gene categories related to sound perception, olfaction and viral infection. The greatest differences were detected between the native Thai and the Mediterranean populations. The two Italian populations were the most similar. Nearly one million quality filtered SNP loci were identified. CONCLUSION The ability to express this great inter-population transcriptional variability highlights, at the functional level, the remarkable genetic flexibility of this mosquito species. We can hypothesize that the differential expression of genes, including those involved in sensory perception, in different populations may enable Ae. albopictus to exploit different environments and hosts, thus contributing to its status as a global vector of arboviruses of public health importance. The large number of SNP loci present in these transcripts represents a useful addition to the arsenal of high-resolution molecular markers and a resource that can be used to detect selective pressure and adaptive changes that may have occurred during the colonization process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludvik M Gomulski
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mosè Manni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Davide Carraretto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Tony Nolan
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Daniel Lawson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - José M Ribeiro
- NIAID, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIH, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Anna R Malacrida
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuliano Gasperi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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5
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Saltin BD, Matsumura Y, Reid A, Windmill JF, Gorb SN, Jackson JC. Material stiffness variation in mosquito antennae. J R Soc Interface 2019; 16:20190049. [PMID: 31088259 PMCID: PMC6544878 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2019.0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The antennae of mosquitoes are model systems for acoustic sensation, in that they obey general principles for sound detection, using both active feedback mechanisms and passive structural adaptations. However, the biomechanical aspect of the antennal structure is much less understood than the mechano-electrical transduction. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, we measured the fluorescent properties of the antennae of two species of mosquito- Toxorhynchites brevipalpis and Anopheles arabiensis-and, noting that fluorescence is correlated with material stiffness, we found that the structure of the antenna is not a simple beam of homogeneous material, but is in fact a rather more complex structure with spatially distributed discrete changes in material properties. These present as bands or rings of different material in each subunit of the antenna, which repeat along its length. While these structures may simply be required for structural robustness of the antennae, we found that in FEM simulation, these banded structures can strongly affect the resonant frequencies of cantilever-beam systems, and therefore taken together our results suggest that modulating the material properties along the length of the antenna could constitute an additional mechanism for resonant tuning in these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. D. Saltin
- Centre for Ultrasonic Engineering, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 204 George Street, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK
| | - Y. Matsumura
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute of the University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - A. Reid
- Centre for Ultrasonic Engineering, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 204 George Street, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK
| | - J. F. Windmill
- Centre for Ultrasonic Engineering, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 204 George Street, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK
| | - S. N. Gorb
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute of the University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - J. C. Jackson
- Centre for Ultrasonic Engineering, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 204 George Street, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK
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Sant HH, Sane SP. The mechanosensory-motor apparatus of antennae in the Oleander hawk moth (Daphnis nerii, Lepidoptera). J Comp Neurol 2018; 526:2215-2230. [PMID: 29907958 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Insect antennae are sensory organs of great importance because they can sense diverse environmental stimuli. In addition to serving as primary olfactory organs of insects, antennae also sense a wide variety of mechanosensory stimuli, ranging from low-frequency airflow or gravity cues to high-frequency antennal vibrations due to sound, flight or touch. The basal segments of the antennae house multiple types of mechanosensory structures that prominently include the sensory hair plates, or Böhm's bristles, which measure the gross extent of antennal movement, and a ring of highly sensitive scolopidial neurons, collectively called the Johnston's organs, which record subtle flagellar vibrations. To fulfill their multifunctional mechanosensory role, the antennae of insects must actively move thereby enhancing their ability to sense various cues in the surrounding environment. This tight coupling between antennal mechanosensory function and antennal movements means that the underlying mechanosensory-motor apparatus constitutes a highly tuned feedback-controlled system. Our study aims to explore how the sensory and motor components of this system are configured to enable such functional versatility. We describe antennal mechanosensory neurons, their central projections in the brain relative to antennal motor neurons and the internal morphology of various antennal muscles that actuate the basal segments of the antenna. We studied these in the Oleander hawk moth (Daphnis nerii) using a combination of techniques such as neural dye fills, confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray tomography. Our study thus provides a detailed anatomical picture of the antennal mechanosensory-motor apparatus, which in turn provides key insights into its multifunctional role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harshada H Sant
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Sanjay P Sane
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India
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Su MP, Andrés M, Boyd-Gibbins N, Somers J, Albert JT. Sex and species specific hearing mechanisms in mosquito flagellar ears. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3911. [PMID: 30254270 PMCID: PMC6156513 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06388-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hearing is essential for the courtship of one of the major carriers of human disease, the mosquito. Males locate females through flight-tone recognition and both sexes engage in mid-air acoustic communications, which can take place within swarms containing thousands of individuals. Despite the importance of hearing for mosquitoes, its mechanisms are still largely unclear. We here report a multilevel analysis of auditory function across three disease-transmitting mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus). All ears tested display transduction-dependent power gain. Quantitative analyses of mechanotransducer function reveal sex-specific and species-specific variations, including male-specific, highly sensitive transducer populations. Systemic blocks of neurotransmission result in large-amplitude oscillations only in male flagellar receivers, indicating sexually dimorphic auditory gain control mechanisms. Our findings identify modifications of auditory function as a key feature in mosquito evolution. We propose that intra-swarm communication has been a driving force behind the observed sex-specific and species-specific diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew P Su
- Ear Institute, University College London, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK
- Centre for Mathematics and Physics in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology (CoMPLEX), University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Marta Andrés
- Ear Institute, University College London, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Nicholas Boyd-Gibbins
- Ear Institute, University College London, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Jason Somers
- Ear Institute, University College London, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Joerg T Albert
- Ear Institute, University College London, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK.
- Centre for Mathematics and Physics in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology (CoMPLEX), University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6DE, UK.
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8
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Lapshin DN, Vorontsov DD. Frequency organization of the Johnston organ in male mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae). J Exp Biol 2017; 220:3927-3938. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.152017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The Johnston's organs (JO) of mosquitoes are the most complex mechanosensitive organs yet found in insects. Previous findings on behavior of mosquitoes suggest that, together with exceptional sensitivity, their auditory system can discriminate frequencies. Analysis of compound responses of the JO did not provide unambiguous evidence of such discrimination, even less did it help to find its mechanism. Using the feedback stimulation method, we measured the tuning frequencies of the JO sensory neurons. Here we present electrophysiological evidence that male mosquitoes of Culex pipiens possess at least eight groups of auditory neurons which are distinct in their frequency tuning, with individual frequencies ranging from 85 to 470 Hz. Most of the neurons are tuned to 190 – 270 Hz, which corresponds to the difference between a male and a female flight tones. Axons of the JO sensory units propagate graded amplified receptor potentials rather than all-or-none action potentials, are grouped into pairs or triplets and often respond in anti-phase to each other. Some features of the mosquito auditory system suggest an analogy to the retinal mechanisms. Together with our previous findings on frequency tuning in female mosquitoes of different species, this study presents evidence in favor of sophisticated frequency analysis of sound in mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry N. Lapshin
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Kharkevich Institute), Bolshoy Karetny per. 19, Moscow, 127994, Russia
| | - Dmitry D. Vorontsov
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova 26, Moscow, 119334, Russia
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9
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Andrés M, Seifert M, Spalthoff C, Warren B, Weiss L, Giraldo D, Winkler M, Pauls S, Göpfert M. Auditory Efferent System Modulates Mosquito Hearing. Curr Biol 2016; 26:2028-2036. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.05.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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10
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Coen P, Xie M, Clemens J, Murthy M. Sensorimotor Transformations Underlying Variability in Song Intensity during Drosophila Courtship. Neuron 2016; 89:629-44. [PMID: 26844835 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Diverse animal species, from insects to humans, utilize acoustic signals for communication. Studies of the neural basis for song or speech production have focused almost exclusively on the generation of spectral and temporal patterns, but animals can also adjust acoustic signal intensity when communicating. For example, humans naturally regulate the loudness of speech in accord with a visual estimate of receiver distance. The underlying mechanisms for this ability remain uncharacterized in any system. Here, we show that Drosophila males modulate courtship song amplitude with female distance, and we investigate each stage of the sensorimotor transformation underlying this behavior, from the detection of particular visual stimulus features and the timescales of sensory processing to the modulation of neural and muscle activity that generates song. Our results demonstrate an unanticipated level of control in insect acoustic communication and uncover novel computations and mechanisms underlying the regulation of acoustic signal intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Coen
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Marjorie Xie
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Jan Clemens
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Mala Murthy
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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11
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Matsuo E, Seki H, Asai T, Morimoto T, Miyakawa H, Ito K, Kamikouchi A. Organization of projection neurons and local neurons of the primary auditory center in the fruit fly
Drosophila melanogaster. J Comp Neurol 2016; 524:1099-164. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.23955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 12/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eriko Matsuo
- Graduate School of ScienceNagoya UniversityNagoya464‐8602 Japan
| | - Haruyoshi Seki
- School of Life SciencesTokyo University of Pharmacy and Life SciencesHachioji Tokyo Japan
| | - Tomonori Asai
- Graduate School of ScienceNagoya UniversityNagoya464‐8602 Japan
| | - Takako Morimoto
- School of Life SciencesTokyo University of Pharmacy and Life SciencesHachioji Tokyo Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Miyakawa
- School of Life SciencesTokyo University of Pharmacy and Life SciencesHachioji Tokyo Japan
| | - Kei Ito
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular BiosciencesThe University of TokyoYayoi, Bunkyo‐ku Tokyo113‐0032 Japan
| | - Azusa Kamikouchi
- Graduate School of ScienceNagoya UniversityNagoya464‐8602 Japan
- Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology AgencyTokyo102‐0076 Japan
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12
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Abstract
Insect hearing has independently evolved multiple times in the context of intraspecific communication and predator detection by transforming proprioceptive organs into ears. Research over the past decade, ranging from the biophysics of sound reception to molecular aspects of auditory transduction to the neuronal mechanisms of auditory signal processing, has greatly advanced our understanding of how insects hear. Apart from evolutionary innovations that seem unique to insect hearing, parallels between insect and vertebrate auditory systems have been uncovered, and the auditory sensory cells of insects and vertebrates turned out to be evolutionarily related. This review summarizes our current understanding of insect hearing. It also discusses recent advances in insect auditory research, which have put forward insect auditory systems for studying biological aspects that extend beyond hearing, such as cilium function, neuronal signal computation, and sensory system evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin C Göpfert
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, University of Göttingen, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany;
| | - R Matthias Hennig
- Department of Biology, Behavioral Physiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, D-10115 Berlin, Germany;
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13
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Abstract
The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is an invaluable model for auditory research. Advantages of using the fruit fly include its stereotyped behavior in response to a particular sound, and the availability of molecular-genetic tools to manipulate gene expression and cellular activity. Although the receiver type in fruit flies differs from that in mammals, the auditory systems of mammals and fruit flies are strikingly similar with regard to the level of development, transduction mechanism, mechanical amplification, and central projections. These similarities strongly support the use of the fruit fly to study the general principles of acoustic information processing. In this review, we introduce acoustic communication and discuss recent advances in our understanding on hearing in fruit flies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled <Annual Reviews 2016>.
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de Silva P, Nutter B, Bernal XE. Use of acoustic signals in mating in an eavesdropping frog-biting midge. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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15
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Albert JT, Göpfert MC. Hearing in Drosophila. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2015; 34:79-85. [PMID: 25710304 PMCID: PMC4582067 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2015.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
The dissection of the Drosophila auditory system has revealed multiple parallels between fly and vertebrate hearing. Recent studies have analyzed the operation of auditory sensory cells and the processing of sound in the fly's brain. Neuronal responses to sound have been characterized, and novel classes of auditory neurons have been defined; transient receptor potential (TRP) channels were implicated in auditory transduction, and genetic and environmental causes of auditory dysfunctions have been identified. This review discusses the implications of these recent advances on our understanding of how hearing happens in the fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg T Albert
- Ear Institute, University College London, 332 Gray's Inn Rd, London WC1X 8EE, UK.
| | - Martin C Göpfert
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, University of Göttingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
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16
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Mishra M. A quick method to investigate the Drosophila Johnston's organ by confocal microscopy. J Microsc Ultrastruct 2015; 3:1-7. [PMID: 30023175 PMCID: PMC6014221 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmau.2014.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Revised: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila antennae is gaining attention to study the hearing molecules and its mechanism in last few decades. Various molecules required for the formation of hearing organ is conserved between Drosophila and human being. This suggests Drosophila can be used as a model organism to decipher the vertebrate hearing mechanism. In this context a protocol describing the fixation, sectioning and staining of antennae is lacking from the literature. The current paper describes various commercially available markers of the antennae to visualise it under confocal microscope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monalisa Mishra
- Department of Life Science, NIT Rourkela, Rourkela, Orissa, India
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW This article presents research findings from two invertebrate model systems with potential to advance both the understanding of noise-induced hearing loss mechanisms and the development of putative therapies to reduce human noise damage. RECENT FINDINGS Work on sea anemone hair bundles, which resemble auditory hair cells, has revealed secretions that exhibit astonishing healing properties not only for damaged hair bundles, but also for vertebrate lateral line neuromasts. We present progress on identifying functional components of the secretions, and their mechanisms of repair. The second model, the Johnston's organ in Drosophila, is also genetically homologous to hair cells and shows noise-induced hearing loss similar to vertebrates. Drosophila offers genetic and molecular insight into noise sensitivity and pathways that can be manipulated to reduce stress and damage from noise. SUMMARY Using the comparative approach is a productive avenue to understanding basic mechanisms, in this case cellular responses to noise trauma. Expanding study of these systems may accelerate identification of strategies to reduce or prevent noise damage in the human ear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin W Christie
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52246
| | - Daniel F. Eberl
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52246
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18
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Matsuo E, Yamada D, Ishikawa Y, Asai T, Ishimoto H, Kamikouchi A. Identification of novel vibration- and deflection-sensitive neuronal subgroups in Johnston's organ of the fruit fly. Front Physiol 2014; 5:179. [PMID: 24847281 PMCID: PMC4023023 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 04/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster responds behaviorally to sound, gravity, and wind. Johnston's organ (JO) at the antennal base serves as a sensory organ in the fruit fly to detect these mechanosensory stimuli. Among the five anatomically defined subgroups of sensory neurons in JO, subgroups A and B detect sound vibrations and subgroups C and E respond to static deflections, such as gravity and wind. The functions of subgroup-D JO neurons, however, remain unknown. In this study, we used molecular-genetic methods to explore the physiologic properties of subgroup-D JO neurons. Both vibrations and static deflection of the antennal receiver activated subgroup-D JO neurons. This finding clearly revealed that zone D in the antennal mechanosensory and motor center (AMMC), the projection target of subgroup-D JO neurons, is a primary center for antennal vibrations and deflection in the fly brain. We anatomically identified two types of interneurons downstream of subgroup-D JO neurons, AMMC local neurons (AMMC LNs), and AMMC D1 neurons. AMMC LNs are local neurons whose projections are confined within the AMMC, connecting zones B and D. On the other hand, AMMC D1 neurons have both local dendritic arborizations within the AMMC and descending projections to the thoracic ganglia, suggesting that AMMC D1 neurons are likely to relay information of the antennal movement detected by subgroup-D JO neurons from the AMMC directly to the thorax. Together, these findings provide a neural basis for how JO and its brain targets encode information of complex movements of the fruit fly antenna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriko Matsuo
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Nagoya, Japan
| | - Daichi Yamada
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuki Ishikawa
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomonori Asai
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ishimoto
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Nagoya, Japan
| | - Azusa Kamikouchi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Nagoya, Japan ; Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency Tokyo, Japan
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19
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Vaughan AG, Zhou C, Manoli DS, Baker BS. Neural pathways for the detection and discrimination of conspecific song in D. melanogaster. Curr Biol 2014; 24:1039-49. [PMID: 24794294 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Revised: 01/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During courtship, male Drosophila melanogaster sing a multipart courtship song to female flies. This song is of particular interest because (1) it is species specific and varies widely within the genus, (2) it is a gating stimulus for females, who are sensitive detectors of conspecific song, and (3) it is the only sexual signal that is under both neural and genetic control. This song is perceived via mechanosensory neurons in the antennal Johnston's organ, which innervate the antennal mechanosensory and motor center (AMMC) of the brain. However, AMMC outputs that are responsible for detection and discrimination of conspecific courtship song remain unknown. RESULTS Using a large-scale anatomical screen of AMMC interneurons, we identify seven projection neurons (aPNs) and five local interneurons (aLNs) that outline a complex architecture for the ascending mechanosensory pathway. Neuronal inactivation and hyperactivation during behavior reveal that only two classes of interneurons are necessary for song responses--the projection neuron aPN1 and GABAergic interneuron aLN(al). These neurons are necessary in both male and female flies. Physiological recordings in aPN1 reveal the integration of courtship song as a function of pulse rate and outline an intracellular transfer function that likely facilitates the response to conspecific song. CONCLUSIONS These results reveal a critical pathway for courtship hearing in male and female flies, in which both aLN(al) and aPN1 mediate the detection of conspecific song. The pathways arising from these neurons likely serve as a critical neural substrate for behavioral reproductive isolation in D. melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chuan Zhou
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, HHMI, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | | | - Bruce S Baker
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, HHMI, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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20
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Abstract
Hearing is a particularly sensitive form of mechanosensation that relies on dedicated ion channels transducing sound-induced vibrations that hardly exceed Brownian motion. Attempts to molecularly identify these auditory transduction channels have put the focus on TRPs in ears. In Drosophila, hearing has been shown to involve TRPA, TRPC, TRPN, and TRPV subfamily members, with candidate auditory transduction channels including NOMPC (=TRPN1) and the TRPVs Nan and Iav. In vertebrates, TRPs are unlikely to form auditory transduction channels, yet most TRPs are expressed in inner ear tissues, and mutations in TRPN1, TRPVA1, TRPML3, TRPV4, and TRPC3/TRPC6 have been implicated in inner ear function. Starting with a brief introduction of fly and vertebrate auditory anatomies and transduction mechanisms, this review summarizes our current understanding of the auditory roles of TRPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Zanini
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, University of Göttingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
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21
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Geurten B, Spalthoff C, Göpfert M. Insect Hearing: Active Amplification in Tympanal Ears. Curr Biol 2013; 23:R950-2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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22
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Boekhoff-Falk G, Eberl DF. The Drosophila auditory system. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2013; 3:179-91. [PMID: 24719289 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Revised: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Development of a functional auditory system in Drosophila requires specification and differentiation of the chordotonal sensilla of Johnston's organ (JO) in the antenna, correct axonal targeting to the antennal mechanosensory and motor center in the brain, and synaptic connections to neurons in the downstream circuit. Chordotonal development in JO is functionally complicated by structural, molecular, and functional diversity that is not yet fully understood, and construction of the auditory neural circuitry is only beginning to unfold. Here, we describe our current understanding of developmental and molecular mechanisms that generate the exquisite functions of the Drosophila auditory system, emphasizing recent progress and highlighting important new questions arising from research on this remarkable sensory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Boekhoff-Falk
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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23
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Lapshin DN, Vorontsov DD. Frequency tuning of individual auditory receptors in female mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 59:828-839. [PMID: 23742968 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2013.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Revised: 05/23/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The acoustic sensory organs in mosquitoes (Johnston organs) have been thoroughly studied; yet, to date, no data are available on the individual tuning properties of the numerous receptors that convert sound-induced vibrations into electrical signals. All previous measurements of frequency tuning in mosquitoes have been based on the acoustically evoked field potentials recorded from the entire Johnston organ. Here, we present evidence that individual receptors have various frequency tunings and that differently tuned receptors are unequally represented within the Johnston organ. We devised a positive feedback stimulation paradigm as a new and effective approach to test individual receptor properties. Alongside the glass microelectrode technique, the positive feedback stimulation paradigm has allowed us to obtain data on receptor tuning in females from three mosquito species: Anopheles messeae, Aedes excrucians and Culex pipiens pipiens. The existence of individually tuned auditory receptors implies that frequency analysis in mosquitoes may be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- D N Lapshin
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Kharkevich Institute), Bolshoy Karetny Per. 19, Moscow 127994, Russia.
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24
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Kamikouchi A. Auditory neuroscience in fruit flies. Neurosci Res 2013; 76:113-8. [PMID: 23707240 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2013.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2013] [Revised: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Since the first analysis of the Drosophila courtship song more than 50 years ago, the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying the acoustic communication between fruit flies has been studied extensively. The results of recent studies utilizing a wide array of genetic tools provide novel insights into the anatomic and functional characteristics of the auditory and other mechanosensory systems in the fruit fly. Johnston's hearing organ, the antennal ear of the fruit fly, serves as a complex sensor not only for near-field sound but also for gravity and wind. These auditory and non-auditory signals travel in parallel from the fly ear to the brain, feeding into neural pathways similar to the auditory and vestibular pathways of the human brain. This review discusses these recent findings and outlines auditory neuroscience in flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azusa Kamikouchi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan.
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25
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Greggers U, Koch G, Schmidt V, Dürr A, Floriou-Servou A, Piepenbrock D, Göpfert MC, Menzel R. Reception and learning of electric fields in bees. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20130528. [PMID: 23536603 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.0528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Honeybees, like other insects, accumulate electric charge in flight, and when their body parts are moved or rubbed together. We report that bees emit constant and modulated electric fields when flying, landing, walking and during the waggle dance. The electric fields emitted by dancing bees consist of low- and high-frequency components. Both components induce passive antennal movements in stationary bees according to Coulomb's law. Bees learn both the constant and the modulated electric field components in the context of appetitive proboscis extension response conditioning. Using this paradigm, we identify mechanoreceptors in both joints of the antennae as sensors. Other mechanoreceptors on the bee body are potentially involved but are less sensitive. Using laser vibrometry, we show that the electrically charged flagellum is moved by constant and modulated electric fields and more strongly so if sound and electric fields interact. Recordings from axons of the Johnston organ document its sensitivity to electric field stimuli. Our analyses identify electric fields emanating from the surface charge of bees as stimuli for mechanoreceptors, and as biologically relevant stimuli, which may play a role in social communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Greggers
- Institut für Biologie, AG Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 28-30, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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Neuronal encoding of sound, gravity, and wind in the fruit fly. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2013; 199:253-62. [PMID: 23494584 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-013-0806-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2012] [Revised: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 03/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster responds behaviorally to sound, gravity, and wind. Exposure to male courtship songs results in reduced locomotion in females, whereas males begin to chase each other. When agitated, fruit flies tend to move against gravity. When faced with air currents, they 'freeze' in place. Based on recent studies, Johnston's hearing organ, the antennal ear of the fruit fly, serves as a sensor for all of these mechanosensory stimuli. Compartmentalization of sense cells in Johnston's organ into vibration-sensitive and deflection-sensitive neural groups allows this single organ to mediate such varied functions. Sound and gravity/wind signals sensed by these two neuronal groups travel in parallel from the fly ear to the brain, feeding into neural pathways reminiscent of the auditory and vestibular pathways in the human brain. Studies of the similarities between mammals and flies will lead to a better understanding of the principles of how sound and gravity information is encoded in the brain. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of these principles and discuss the advantages of the fruit fly as a model system to explore the fundamental principles of how neural circuits and their ensembles process and integrate sensory information in the brain.
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Abstract
Acoustic communication in drosophilid flies is based on the production and perception of courtship songs, which facilitate mating. Despite decades of research on courtship songs and behavior in Drosophila, central auditory responses have remained uncharacterized. In this study, we report on intracellular recordings from central neurons that innervate the Drosophila antennal mechanosensory and motor center (AMMC), the first relay for auditory information in the fly brain. These neurons produce graded-potential (nonspiking) responses to sound; we compare recordings from AMMC neurons to extracellular recordings of the receptor neuron population [Johnston's organ neurons (JONs)]. We discover that, while steady-state response profiles for tonal and broadband stimuli are significantly transformed between the JON population in the antenna and AMMC neurons in the brain, transient responses to pulses present in natural stimuli (courtship song) are not. For pulse stimuli in particular, AMMC neurons simply low-pass filter the receptor population response, thus preserving low-frequency temporal features (such as the spacing of song pulses) for analysis by postsynaptic neurons. We also compare responses in two closely related Drosophila species, Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans, and find that pulse song responses are largely similar, despite differences in the spectral content of their songs. Our recordings inform how downstream circuits may read out behaviorally relevant information from central neurons in the AMMC.
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