A Neural Circuit Controlling Virgin Female Aggression Induced by Mating-related Cues in Drosophila.
10.1007/s12264-023-01050-9
- Author:
Xiaolu WAN
1
;
Peng SHEN
2
;
Kai SHI
2
;
Jing LI
3
;
Fengming WU
4
;
Chuan ZHOU
2
Author Information
1. State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. wanxiaolu@ioz.ac.cn.
2. State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
3. Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China.
4. State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. wufengming@ioz.ac.cn.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
11-cis-vaccenyl acetate;
Acetylcholine;
Aggression;
Drosophila;
Neural circuit;
Pheromone
- MeSH:
Animals;
Male;
Female;
Drosophila/physiology*;
Drosophila Proteins/physiology*;
Cues;
Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology*;
Aggression/physiology*;
Drosophila melanogaster/physiology*
- From:
Neuroscience Bulletin
2023;39(9):1396-1410
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Females increase aggression for mating opportunities and for acquiring reproductive resources. Although the close relationship between female aggression and mating status is widely appreciated, whether and how female aggression is regulated by mating-related cues remains poorly understood. Here we report an interesting observation that Drosophila virgin females initiate high-frequency attacks toward mated females. We identify 11-cis-vaccenyl acetate (cVA), a male-derived pheromone transferred to females during mating, which promotes virgin female aggression. We subsequently reveal a cVA-responsive neural circuit consisting of four orders of neurons, including Or67d, DA1, aSP-g, and pC1 neurons, that mediate cVA-induced virgin female aggression. We also determine that aSP-g neurons release acetylcholine (ACh) to excite pC1 neurons via the nicotinic ACh receptor nAChRα7. Together, beyond revealing cVA as a mating-related inducer of virgin female aggression, our results identify a neural circuit linking the chemosensory perception of mating-related cues to aggressive behavior in Drosophila females.
