1
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Cazalé-Debat L, Scheunemann L, Day M, Fernandez-D V Alquicira T, Dimtsi A, Zhang Y, Blackburn LA, Ballardini C, Greenin-Whitehead K, Reynolds E, Lin AC, Owald D, Rezaval C. Mating proximity blinds threat perception. Nature 2024:10.1038/s41586-024-07890-3. [PMID: 39198656 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07890-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Romantic engagement can bias sensory perception. This 'love blindness' reflects a common behavioural principle across organisms: favouring pursuit of a coveted reward over potential risks1. In the case of animal courtship, such sensory biases may support reproductive success but can also expose individuals to danger, such as predation2,3. However, how neural networks balance the trade-off between risk and reward is unknown. Here we discover a dopamine-governed filter mechanism in male Drosophila that reduces threat perception as courtship progresses. We show that during early courtship stages, threat-activated visual neurons inhibit central courtship nodes via specific serotonergic neurons. This serotonergic inhibition prompts flies to abort courtship when they see imminent danger. However, as flies advance in the courtship process, the dopaminergic filter system reduces visual threat responses, shifting the balance from survival to mating. By recording neural activity from males as they approach mating, we demonstrate that progress in courtship is registered as dopaminergic activity levels ramping up. This dopamine signalling inhibits the visual threat detection pathway via Dop2R receptors, allowing male flies to focus on courtship when they are close to copulation. Thus, dopamine signalling biases sensory perception based on perceived goal proximity, to prioritize between competing behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie Cazalé-Debat
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Centre for Neurogenetics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Lisa Scheunemann
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology, Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Neurophysiologie and NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Megan Day
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Centre for Neurogenetics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Tania Fernandez-D V Alquicira
- Institut für Neurophysiologie and NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Dimtsi
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Centre for Neurogenetics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Youchong Zhang
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Centre for Neurogenetics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lauren A Blackburn
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Centre for Neurogenetics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK
| | - Charles Ballardini
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Centre for Neurogenetics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Katie Greenin-Whitehead
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Eric Reynolds
- Institut für Neurophysiologie and NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrew C Lin
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - David Owald
- Institut für Neurophysiologie and NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carolina Rezaval
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
- Birmingham Centre for Neurogenetics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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2
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Duhart JM, Buchler JR, Inami S, Kennedy KJ, Jenny BP, Afonso DJS, Koh K. Modulation and neural correlates of postmating sleep plasticity in Drosophila females. Curr Biol 2023; 33:2702-2716.e3. [PMID: 37352854 PMCID: PMC10527417 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Sleep is essential, but animals may forgo sleep to engage in other critical behaviors, such as feeding and reproduction. Previous studies have shown that female flies exhibit decreased sleep after mating, but our understanding of the process is limited. Here, we report that postmating nighttime sleep loss is modulated by diet and sleep deprivation, demonstrating a complex interaction among sleep, reproduction, and diet. We also find that female-specific pC1 neurons and sleep-promoting dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB) neurons are required for postmating sleep plasticity. Activating pC1 neurons leads to sleep suppression on standard fly culture media but has little sleep effect on sucrose-only food. Published connectome data suggest indirect, inhibitory connections among pC1 subtypes. Using calcium imaging, we show that activating the pC1e subtype inhibits dFB neurons. We propose that pC1 and dFB neurons integrate the mating status, food context, and sleep drive to modulate postmating sleep plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Duhart
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Laboratorio de Genética del Comportamiento, Fundación Instituto Leloir-IIBBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires C1405BWE, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Quilmes B1876BXD, Argentina.
| | - Joseph R Buchler
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Sho Inami
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Kyle J Kennedy
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - B Peter Jenny
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Dinis J S Afonso
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Kyunghee Koh
- Department of Neuroscience, the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and Synaptic Biology Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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3
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Shen P, Wan X, Wu F, Shi K, Li J, Gao H, Zhao L, Zhou C. Neural circuit mechanisms linking courtship and reward in Drosophila males. Curr Biol 2023; 33:2034-2050.e8. [PMID: 37160122 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Courtship has evolved to achieve reproductive success in animal species. However, whether courtship itself has a positive value remains unclear. In the present work, we report that courtship is innately rewarding and can induce the expression of appetitive short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) in Drosophila melanogaster males. Activation of male-specific P1 neurons is sufficient to mimic courtship-induced preference and memory performance. Surprisingly, P1 neurons functionally connect to a large proportion of dopaminergic neurons (DANs) in the protocerebral anterior medial (PAM) cluster. The acquisition of STM and LTM depends on two distinct subsets of PAM DANs that convey the courtship-reward signal to the restricted regions of the mushroom body (MB) γ and α/β lobes through two dopamine receptors, D1-like Dop1R1 and D2-like Dop2R. Furthermore, the retrieval of STM stored in the MB α'/β' lobes and LTM stored in the MB α/β lobe relies on two distinct MB output neurons. Finally, LTM consolidation requires two subsets of PAM DANs projecting to the MB α/β lobe and corresponding MB output neurons. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that courtship is a potent rewarding stimulus and reveal the underlying neural circuit mechanisms linking courtship and reward in Drosophila males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Xiaolu Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fengming Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Kai Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Li
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
| | - Hongjiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lilin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Chuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
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4
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Coomer C, Naumova D, Talay M, Zolyomi B, Snell N, Sorkac A, Chanchu JM, Cheng J, Roman I, Li J, Robson D, Barnea G, Halpern ME. Transsynaptic labeling and transcriptional control of zebrafish neural circuits. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.03.535421. [PMID: 37066422 PMCID: PMC10103993 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.03.535421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Deciphering the connectome, the ensemble of synaptic connections that underlie brain function is a central goal of neuroscience research. The trans-Tango genetic approach, initially developed for anterograde transsynaptic tracing in Drosophila, can be used to map connections between presynaptic and postsynaptic partners and to drive gene expression in target neurons. Here, we describe the successful adaptation of trans-Tango to visualize neural connections in a living vertebrate nervous system, that of the zebrafish. Connections were validated between synaptic partners in the larval retina and brain. Results were corroborated by functional experiments in which optogenetic activation of retinal ganglion cells elicited responses in neurons of the optic tectum, as measured by trans-Tango-dependent expression of a genetically encoded calcium indicator. Transsynaptic signaling through trans-Tango reveals predicted as well as previously undescribed synaptic connections, providing a valuable in vivo tool to monitor and interrogate neural circuits over time.
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5
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Duhart JM, Inami S, Koh K. Many faces of sleep regulation: beyond the time of day and prior wake time. FEBS J 2023; 290:931-950. [PMID: 34908236 PMCID: PMC9198110 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The two-process model of sleep regulation posits two main processes regulating sleep: the circadian process controlled by the circadian clock and the homeostatic process that depends on the history of sleep and wakefulness. The model has provided a dominant conceptual framework for sleep research since its publication ~ 40 years ago. The time of day and prior wake time are the primary factors affecting the circadian and homeostatic processes, respectively. However, it is critical to consider other factors influencing sleep. Since sleep is incompatible with other behaviors, it is affected by the need for essential behaviors such as eating, foraging, mating, caring for offspring, and avoiding predators. Sleep is also affected by sensory inputs, sickness, increased need for memory consolidation after learning, and other factors. Here, we review multiple factors influencing sleep and discuss recent insights into the mechanisms balancing competing needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Manuel Duhart
- Department of Neuroscience, Farber Institute for Neurosciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia PA
- These authors contributed equally
- Present address: Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sho Inami
- Department of Neuroscience, Farber Institute for Neurosciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia PA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Kyunghee Koh
- Department of Neuroscience, Farber Institute for Neurosciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia PA
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6
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Kato YS, Tomita J, Kume K. Interneurons of fan-shaped body promote arousal in Drosophila. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277918. [PMID: 36409701 PMCID: PMC9678257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep is required to maintain physiological functions and is widely conserved across species. To understand the sleep-regulatory mechanisms, sleep-regulating genes and neuronal circuits are studied in various animal species. In the sleep-regulatory neuronal circuits in Drosophila melanogaster, the dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB) is a major sleep-promoting region. However, other sleep-regulating neuronal circuits were not well identified. We recently found that arousal-promoting T1 dopamine neurons, interneurons of protocerebral bridge (PB) neurons, and PB neurons innervating the ventral part of the FB form a sleep-regulatory circuit, which we named "the PB-FB pathway". In the exploration of other sleep-regulatory circuits, we found that activation of FB interneurons, also known as pontine neurons, promoted arousal. We then found that FB interneurons had possible connections with the PB-FB pathway and dFB neurons. Ca2+ imaging revealed that FB interneurons received excitatory signals from the PB-FB pathway. We also demonstrated the possible role of FB interneurons to regulate dFB neurons. These results suggested the role of FB interneurons in sleep regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiaki S. Kato
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Jun Tomita
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Kume
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
- * E-mail: ,
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7
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Neural Control of Action Selection Among Innate Behaviors. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:1541-1558. [PMID: 35633465 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00886-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nervous systems must not only generate specific adaptive behaviors, such as reproduction, aggression, feeding, and sleep, but also select a single behavior for execution at any given time, depending on both internal states and external environmental conditions. Despite their tremendous biological importance, the neural mechanisms of action selection remain poorly understood. In the past decade, studies in the model animal Drosophila melanogaster have demonstrated valuable neural mechanisms underlying action selection of innate behaviors. In this review, we summarize circuit mechanisms with a particular focus on a small number of sexually dimorphic neurons in controlling action selection among sex, fight, feeding, and sleep behaviors in both sexes of flies. We also discuss potentially conserved circuit configurations and neuromodulation of action selection in both the fly and mouse models, aiming to provide insights into action selection and the sexually dimorphic prioritization of innate behaviors.
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8
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Buchert SN, Murakami P, Kalavadia AH, Reyes MT, Sitaraman D. Sleep correlates with behavioral decision making critical for reproductive output in Drosophila melanogaster. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 264:111114. [PMID: 34785379 PMCID: PMC9299756 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.111114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Balance between sleep, wakefulness and arousal is important for survival of organisms and species as a whole. While, the benefits of sleep both in terms of quantity and quality is widely recognized across species, sleep has a cost for organismal survival and reproduction. Here we focus on how sleep duration, sleep depth and sleep pressure affect the ability of animals to engage in courtship and egg-laying behaviors critical for reproductive success. Using isogenic lines from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel with variable sleep phenotypes we investigated the relationship between sleep and reproductive behaviors, courtship and oviposition. We found that three out of five lines with decreased sleep and increased arousal phenotypes, showed increased courtship and decreased latency to court as compared to normal and long sleeping lines. However, the male courtship phenotype is dependent on context and genotype as some but not all long sleeping-low courting lines elevate their courtship in the presence of short sleeping-high courting flies. We also find that unlike courtship, sleep phenotypes were less variable and minimally susceptible to social experience. In addition to male courtship, we also investigated egg-laying phenotype, a readout of female reproductive output and find oviposition to be less sensitive to sleep length and parameters that are indicative of switch between sleep and wake states. Taken together our extensive behavioral analysis here shows complex bidirectional interactions between genotype and environment and add to the growing evidence linking sleep duration and sleep-wake switch parameters to behavioral decision making critical to reproductive output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven N. Buchert
- Department of Psychology, College of Science, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd, California State University, Hayward, CA 94542, United States of America
| | - Pomai Murakami
- Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, 5998 Alcala Park, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 92110, United States of America
| | - Aashaka H. Kalavadia
- Department of Psychology, College of Science, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd, California State University, Hayward, CA 94542, United States of America
| | - Martin T. Reyes
- Department of Psychology, College of Science, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd, California State University, Hayward, CA 94542, United States of America
| | - Divya Sitaraman
- Department of Psychology, College of Science, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd, California State University, Hayward, CA 94542, United States of America,Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, 5998 Alcala Park, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 92110, United States of America,Corresponding author at: Department of Psychology, College of Science, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd, California State University, Hayward, CA 94542, United States of America. (D. Sitaraman)
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9
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Tomita J, Ban G, Kato YS, Kume K. Protocerebral Bridge Neurons That Regulate Sleep in Drosophila melanogaster. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:647117. [PMID: 34720844 PMCID: PMC8554056 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.647117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The central complex is one of the major brain regions that control sleep in Drosophila. However, the circuitry details of sleep regulation have not been elucidated yet. Here, we show a novel sleep-regulating neuronal circuit in the protocerebral bridge (PB) of the central complex. Activation of the PB interneurons labeled by the R59E08-Gal4 and the PB columnar neurons with R52B10-Gal4 promoted sleep and wakefulness, respectively. A targeted GFP reconstitution across synaptic partners (t-GRASP) analysis demonstrated synaptic contact between these two groups of sleep-regulating PB neurons. Furthermore, we found that activation of a pair of dopaminergic (DA) neurons projecting to the PB (T1 DA neurons) decreased sleep. The wake-promoting T1 DA neurons and the sleep-promoting PB interneurons formed close associations. Dopamine 2-like receptor (Dop2R) knockdown in the sleep-promoting PB interneurons increased sleep. These results indicated that the neuronal circuit in the PB, regulated by dopamine signaling, mediates sleep-wakefulness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Tomita
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Gosuke Ban
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki S Kato
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Kume
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
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10
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Diaz F, Allan CW, Markow TA, Bono JM, Matzkin LM. Gene expression and alternative splicing dynamics are perturbed in female head transcriptomes following heterospecific copulation. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:359. [PMID: 34006224 PMCID: PMC8132402 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07669-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the growing interest in the female side of copulatory interactions, the roles played by differential expression and alternative splicing mechanisms of pre-RNA on tissues outside of the reproductive tract have remained largely unknown. Here we addressed these questions in the context of con- vs heterospecific matings between Drosophila mojavensis and its sister species, D. arizonae. We analyzed transcriptional responses in female heads using an integrated investigation of genome-wide patterns of gene expression, including differential expression (DE), alternative splicing (AS) and intron retention (IR). RESULTS Our results indicated that early transcriptional responses were largely congruent between con- and heterospecific matings but are substantially perturbed over time. Conspecific matings induced functional pathways related to amino acid balance previously associated with the brain's physiology and female postmating behavior. Heterospecific matings often failed to activate regulation of some of these genes and induced expression of additional genes when compared with those of conspecifically-mated females. These mechanisms showed functional specializations with DE genes mostly linked to pathways of proteolysis and nutrient homeostasis, while AS genes were more related to photoreception and muscle assembly pathways. IR seems to play a more general role in DE regulation during the female postmating response. CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence showing that AS genes substantially perturbed by heterospecific matings in female heads evolve at slower evolutionary rates than the genome background. However, DE genes evolve at evolutionary rates similar, or even higher, than those of male reproductive genes, which highlights their potential role in sexual selection and the evolution of reproductive barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Diaz
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Carson W Allan
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Therese Ann Markow
- Cinvestav UGA-Langebio, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jeremy M Bono
- Department of Biology, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, USA.
| | - Luciano M Matzkin
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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11
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Timm J, Scherner M, Matschke J, Kern M, Homberg U. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining in the central complex of dicondylian insects. J Comp Neurol 2021; 529:3131-3154. [PMID: 33825188 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25151] [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: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine acts as a neurohormone and neurotransmitter in the insect nervous system and controls a variety of physiological processes. Dopaminergic neurons also innervate the central complex (CX), a multisensory center of the insect brain involved in sky compass navigation, goal-directed locomotion and sleep control. To infer a possible influence of evolutionary history and lifestyle on the neurochemical architecture of the CX, we have studied the distribution of neurons immunoreactive to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine biosynthesis. Analysis of representatives from 12 insect orders ranging from firebrats to flies revealed high conservation of immunolabeled neurons. One type of TH-immunoreactive neuron was found in all species studied. The neurons have somata in the pars intercerebralis, arborizations in the lateral accessory lobes, and axonal ramifications in the central body and noduli. In all pterygote species, a second type of tangential neuron of the upper division of the central body was TH-immunoreactive. The neurons have cell bodies near the calyces and arborizations in the superior protocerebrum. Both types of neuron showed species-specific variations in cell number and in the innervated areas outside and inside the CX. Additional neurons were found in only two taxa: one type of columnar neuron showed TH immunostaining in the water strider Gerris lacustris, but not in other Heteroptera, and a tritocerebral neuron innervating the protocerebral bridge was immunolabeled in Diptera. The data show largely taxon-specific variations of a common ground pattern of putatively dopaminergic neurons that may be commonly involved in state-dependent modulation of CX function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Timm
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Mara Scherner
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jannik Matschke
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Martina Kern
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Homberg
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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12
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Ni L. Genetic Transsynaptic Techniques for Mapping Neural Circuits in Drosophila. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:749586. [PMID: 34675781 PMCID: PMC8524129 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.749586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A neural circuit is composed of a population of neurons that are interconnected by synapses and carry out a specific function when activated. It is the structural framework for all brain functions. Its impairments often cause diseases in the nervous system. To understand computations and functions in a brain circuit, it is of crucial importance to identify how neurons in this circuit are connected. Genetic transsynaptic techniques provide opportunities to efficiently answer this question. These techniques label synapses or across synapses to unbiasedly label synaptic partners. They allow for mapping neural circuits with high reproducibility and throughput, as well as provide genetic access to synaptically connected neurons that enables visualization and manipulation of these neurons simultaneously. This review focuses on three recently developed Drosophila genetic transsynaptic tools for detecting chemical synapses, highlights their advantages and potential pitfalls, and discusses the future development needs of these techniques.
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13
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Siju KP, De Backer JF, Grunwald Kadow IC. Dopamine modulation of sensory processing and adaptive behavior in flies. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:207-225. [PMID: 33515291 PMCID: PMC7873103 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03371-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral flexibility for appropriate action selection is an advantage when animals are faced with decisions that will determine their survival or death. In order to arrive at the right decision, animals evaluate information from their external environment, internal state, and past experiences. How these different signals are integrated and modulated in the brain, and how context- and state-dependent behavioral decisions are controlled are poorly understood questions. Studying the molecules that help convey and integrate such information in neural circuits is an important way to approach these questions. Many years of work in different model organisms have shown that dopamine is a critical neuromodulator for (reward based) associative learning. However, recent findings in vertebrates and invertebrates have demonstrated the complexity and heterogeneity of dopaminergic neuron populations and their functional implications in many adaptive behaviors important for survival. For example, dopaminergic neurons can integrate external sensory information, internal and behavioral states, and learned experience in the decision making circuitry. Several recent advances in methodologies and the availability of a synaptic level connectome of the whole-brain circuitry of Drosophila melanogaster make the fly an attractive system to study the roles of dopamine in decision making and state-dependent behavior. In particular, a learning and memory center-the mushroom body-is richly innervated by dopaminergic neurons that enable it to integrate multi-modal information according to state and context, and to modulate decision-making and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. P. Siju
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Jean-Francois De Backer
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Ilona C. Grunwald Kadow
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
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