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Octopamine neuromodulation regulates Gr32a-linked aggression and courtship pathways in Drosophila males.

Abstract
Chemosensory pheromonal information regulates aggression and reproduction in many species, but how pheromonal signals are transduced to reliably produce behavior is not well understood. Here we demonstrate that the pheromonal signals detected by Gr32a-expressing chemosensory neurons to enhance male aggression are filtered through octopamine (OA, invertebrate equivalent of norepinephrine) neurons. Using behavioral assays, we find males lacking both octopamine and Gr32a gustatory receptors exhibit parallel delays in the onset of aggression and reductions in aggression. Physiological and anatomical experiments identify Gr32a to octopamine neuron synaptic and functional connections in the suboesophageal ganglion. Refining the Gr32a-expressing population indicates that mouth Gr32a neurons promote male aggression and form synaptic contacts with OA neurons. By restricting the monoamine neuron target population, we show that three previously identified OA-Fru(M) neurons involved in behavioral choice are among the Gr32a-OA connections. Our findings demonstrate that octopaminergic neuromodulatory neurons function as early as a second-order step in this chemosensory-driven male social behavior pathway.
AuthorsJonathan C Andrews, María Paz Fernández, Qin Yu, Greg P Leary, Adelaine K W Leung, Michael P Kavanaugh, Edward A Kravitz, Sarah J Certel
JournalPLoS genetics (PLoS Genet) Vol. 10 Issue 5 Pg. e1004356 (May 2014) ISSN: 1553-7404 [Electronic] United States
PMID24852170 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
Chemical References
  • DNA Primers
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Gr32a protein, Drosophila
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Octopamine
Topics
  • Aggression
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Base Sequence
  • Behavior, Animal (physiology)
  • DNA Primers
  • Drosophila (physiology)
  • Drosophila Proteins (genetics, physiology)
  • Male
  • Neurons (physiology)
  • Octopamine (physiology)
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Cell Surface (genetics, physiology)
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal
  • Signal Transduction

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