| Title: | Sensation in a single neuron pair represses male behavior in hermaphrodites |
| Address: | "Department of Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0840, USA" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.044 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1097-4199 (Electronic) 0896-6273 (Print) 0896-6273 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Pheromones elicit innate sex-specific mating behaviors in many species. We demonstrate that in C. elegans, male-specific sexual attraction behavior is programmed in both sexes but repressed in hermaphrodites. Repression requires a single sensory neuron pair, the ASIs. To repress attraction in adults, the ASIs must be present, active, and capable of sensing the environment during development. The ASIs release TGF-beta, and ASI function can be bypassed by experimental activation of TGF-beta signaling. Sexual attraction in derepressed hermaphrodites requires the same sensory neurons as in males. The sexual identity of both these sensory neurons and a distinct subset of interneurons must be male to relieve repression and release attraction. TGF-beta may therefore act to change connections between sensory neurons and interneurons during development to engage repression. Thus, sensation in a single sensory neuron pair during development reprograms a common neural circuit from male to female behavior" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Animals, Genetically Modified Caenorhabditis elegans/physiology Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics Culture Media, Conditioned/pharmacology Disorders of Sex Development/genetics/*pathology/*physiopathology Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Las;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineWhite, Jamie Q Jorgensen, Erik M eng HHMI_/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/ R01 NS034307/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2012/08/28 Neuron. 2012 Aug 23; 75(4):593-600. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.044" |
