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© 2016. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication ( https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ ) (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Copulation is the goal of the courtship process, crucial to reproductive success and evolutionary fitness. Identifying the circuitry underlying copulation is a necessary step towards understanding universal principles of circuit operation, and how circuit elements are recruited into the production of ordered action sequences. Here, we identify key sex-specific neurons that mediate copulation in Drosophila, and define a sexually dimorphic motor circuit in the male abdominal ganglion that mediates the action sequence of initiating and terminating copulation. This sexually dimorphic circuit composed of three neuronal classes – motor neurons, interneurons and mechanosensory neurons – controls the mechanics of copulation. By correlating the connectivity, function and activity of these neurons we have determined the logic for how this circuitry is coordinated to generate this male-specific behavior, and sets the stage for a circuit-level dissection of active sensing and modulation of copulatory behavior.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.20713.001

Details

Title
Neural circuitry coordinating male copulation
Author
Pavlou, Hania J; Lin, Andrew C; Neville, Megan C; Nojima Tetsuya; Diao Fengqiu; Chen, Brian E; White, Benjamin H; Goodwin, Stephen F
University/institution
U.S. National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine
Publication year
2016
Publication date
2016
Publisher
eLife Sciences Publications Ltd.
e-ISSN
2050084X
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
1953312761
Copyright
© 2016. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication ( https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ ) (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.