Open AccessGABA transmission from mAL interneurons regulates aggression in Drosophila males
Author(s) -
Saheli Sengupta,
Yick-Bun Chan,
Caroline B. PalavicinoMaggio,
Edward A. Kravitz
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2117101119
Subject(s) - aggression , drosophila melanogaster , gabaergic , neuroscience , courtship , biology , sex pheromone , drosophila (subgenus) , courtship display , neurotransmission , psychology , genetics , zoology , gene , developmental psychology , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , receptor
Significance Aggression is dependent on the sex of the conspecific in almost all animal species. But the neuronal basis of how sex-specific chemosensory signals regulate aggression is poorly understood. Using the fruit fly model ofDrosophila melanogaster , we demonstrate that activation of a group of GABAergic central brain neurons, known to respond to sex-specific pheromonal stimuli, enhances aggression in dyadic male encounters. Inactivation of this neuronal group decreases aggression and increases the reciprocal social behavior of courtship. Our results can help trace the neural circuit from pheromone processing in the sensory neurons to behavior integration in the central brain and ultimately help understand how neurons encode the behavior of aggression.