| Title: | The Drosophila female aphrodisiac pheromone activates ppk23(+) sensory neurons to elicit male courtship behavior |
| Author(s): | Toda H; Zhao X; Dickson BJ; |
| Address: | "Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Dr. Bohrgasse 7, A-1030 Vienna, Austria" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.celrep.2012.05.007 |
| Abstract: | "Females of many animal species emit chemical signals that attract and arouse males for mating. For example, the major aphrodisiac pheromone of Drosophila melanogaster females, 7,11-heptacosadiene (7,11-HD), is a potent inducer of male-specific courtship and copulatory behaviors. Here, we demonstrate that a set of gustatory sensory neurons on the male foreleg, defined by expression of the ppk23 marker, respond to 7,11-HD. Activity of these neurons is required for males to robustly court females or to court males perfumed with 7,11-HD. Artificial activation of these ppk23(+) neurons stimulates male-male courtship even without 7,11-HD perfuming. These data identify the ppk23(+) sensory neurons as the primary targets for female sex pheromones in Drosophila" |
| Keywords: | Alkadienes/*pharmacology Animals Aphrodisiacs/*pharmacology *Courtship Drosophila Proteins/*metabolism Drosophila melanogaster/drug effects/*physiology Female Ion Channels/*metabolism Male Pheromones/*pharmacology Sensilla/metabolism Sensory Receptor Cell; |
| Notes: | "MedlineToda, Hirofumi Zhao, Xiaoliang Dickson, Barry J eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2012/07/21 Cell Rep. 2012 Jun 28; 1(6):599-607. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2012.05.007. Epub 2012 May 24" |
