The Drosophila female aphrodisiac pheromone activates ppk23(+) sensory neurons to elicit male courtship behavior.
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.
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Dr. Bohrgasse 7, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
Hirofumi
H
Toda
Xiaoliang
X
Zhao
Barry J
BJ
Dickson
D000466:Alkadienes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001046:Aphrodisiacs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003380:Courtship; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058618:Sensilla / Q000378:metabolism; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects
C096032:7,11-heptacosadiene; D000466:Alkadienes; D001046:Aphrodisiacs; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; C573945:PPK23 protein, Drosophila; D010675:Pheromones