@article {47092, title = {Central neural circuitry mediating courtship song perception in male Drosophila.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {4}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Sep 21}, abstract = {

Animals use acoustic signals across a variety of social behaviors, particularly courtship. In Drosophila, song is detected by antennal mechanosensory neurons and further processed by second-order aPN1/aLN(al) neurons. However, little is known about the central pathways mediating courtship hearing. In this study, we identified a male-specific pathway for courtship hearing via third-order ventrolateral protocerebrum Projection Neuron 1 (vPN1) neurons and fourth-order pC1 neurons. Genetic inactivation of vPN1 or pC1 disrupts song-induced male-chaining behavior. Calcium imaging reveals that vPN1 responds preferentially to pulse song with long inter-pulse intervals (IPIs), while pC1 responses to pulse song closely match the behavioral chaining responses at different IPIs. Moreover, genetic activation of either vPN1 or pC1 induced courtship chaining, mimicking the behavioral response to song. These results outline the aPN1-vPN1-pC1 pathway as a labeled line for the processing and transformation of courtship song in males.

}, issn = {2050-084X}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.08477}, author = {Zhou, Chuan and Franconville, Romain and Vaughan, Alexander G and Robinett, Carmen C and Jayaraman, Vivek and Baker, Bruce S} } @article {45055, title = {Central brain neurons expressing doublesex regulate female receptivity in Drosophila.}, journal = {Neuron}, volume = {83}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Jul 2}, pages = {149-63}, abstract = {

Drosophila melanogaster females respond to male courtship by either rejecting the male or allowing copulation. The neural mechanisms underlying these female behaviors likely involve the integration of sensory information in the brain. Because doublesex (dsx) controls other aspects of female differentiation, we asked whether dsx-expressing neurons mediate virgin female receptivity to courting males. Using intersectional techniques to manipulate the activities of defined subsets of dsx-expressing neurons, we found that activation of neurons in either the pCd or pC1 clusters promotes receptivity, while silencing these neurons makes females unreceptive. Furthermore, pCd and pC1 neurons physiologically respond to the male-specific pheromone cis-vaccenyl acetate (cVA), while pC1 neurons also respond to male courtship song. The pCd and pC1 neurons expressing dsx in females do not express transcripts from the fruitless (fru) P1 promoter. Thus, virgin female receptivity is controlled at least in part by neurons that are distinct from those governing male courtship.

}, issn = {1097-4199}, doi = {10.1016/j.neuron.2014.05.038}, author = {Zhou, Chuan and Pan, Yufeng and Robinett, Carmen C and Meissner, Geoffrey W and Baker, Bruce S} } @article {45147, title = {Neural pathways for the detection and discrimination of conspecific song in D. melanogaster.}, journal = {Current Biology}, volume = {24}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 May 19}, pages = {1039-49}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: During courtship, male Drosophila melanogaster sing a multipart courtship song to female flies. This song is of particular interest because (1) it is species specific and varies widely within the genus, (2) it is a gating stimulus for females, who are sensitive detectors of conspecific song, and (3) it is the only sexual signal that is under both neural and genetic control. This song is perceived via mechanosensory neurons in the antennal Johnston{\textquoteright}s organ, which innervate the antennal mechanosensory and motor center (AMMC) of the brain. However, AMMC outputs that are responsible for detection and discrimination of conspecific courtship song remain unknown.

RESULTS: Using a large-scale anatomical screen of AMMC interneurons, we identify seven projection neurons (aPNs) and five local interneurons (aLNs) that outline a complex architecture for the ascending mechanosensory pathway. Neuronal inactivation and hyperactivation during behavior reveal that only two classes of interneurons are necessary for song responses--the projection neuron aPN1 and GABAergic interneuron aLN(al). These neurons are necessary in both male and female flies. Physiological recordings in aPN1 reveal the integration of courtship song as a function of pulse rate and outline an intracellular transfer function that likely facilitates the response to conspecific song.

CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal a critical pathway for courtship hearing in male and female flies, in which both aLN(al) and aPN1 mediate the detection of conspecific song. The pathways arising from these neurons likely serve as a critical neural substrate for behavioral reproductive isolation in D. melanogaster.

}, issn = {1879-0445}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.048}, author = {Vaughan, Alexander G and Zhou, Chuan and Manoli, Devanand S and Baker, Bruce S} } @article {46899, title = {The neuronal basis of how sexual experience modulates male aggression.}, journal = {National Science Review}, volume = {1}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Dec }, pages = {473-4}, doi = {10.1093/nsr/nwu059}, author = {Liang, X H and Rao, Y and Zhou, Chuan} }