Title: | Ovulation and the suppression of mating in Drosophila melanogaster females: behavioral basis |
Address: | "Department of Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan. fuyamayoshiaki@c.metro-u.ac.jp" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0001-8244 (Print) 0001-8244 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Virgin females of Drosophila melanogaster that are ectopically expressing the sex-peptide gene show a high level of ovulation and are unreceptive to males. However, if they are genetically deprived of eggs, receptivity is considerably restored (Fuyama, 1995). These females, whether they have eggs or not, extrude their ovipositors toward courting males as frequently as do fertilized females. However, this rejection behavior was ineffective in suppressing male courtship. Of females with eggs, about half of them could suppress male courtship. Females lacking eggs could not suppress male courtship and continued to elicit vigorous courtship. This difference seems to account for the increased mating frequency in sterilized females. Courtship behavior by mutant males defective in olfaction or learning suggested that females are capable of repelling males by emitting a volatile pheromone(s) with an inhibitory effect on male courtship" |
Keywords: | "Animals Drosophila melanogaster/*genetics Female Gene Expression/physiology Male Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics Models, Genetic Ovulation/*genetics Receptors, Cell Surface Sex Attractants/genetics Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology;" |
Notes: | "MedlineFuyama, Y Ueyama, M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 1997/10/23 Behav Genet. 1997 Sep; 27(5):483-8. doi: 10.1023/a:1025630602057" |