Drosophila seminal protein ovulin mediates ovulation through female octopamine neuronal signaling.

ABSTRACT: Across animal taxa, seminal proteins are important regulators of female reproductive physiology and behavior. However, little is understood about the physiological or molecular mechanisms by which seminal proteins effect these changes. To investigate this topic, we studied the increase in Drosophila melanogaster ovulation behavior induced by mating. Ovulation requires octopamine (OA) signaling from the central nervous system to coordinate an egg's release from the ovary and its passage into the oviduct. The seminal protein ovulin increases ovulation rates after mating. We tested whether ovulin acts through OA to increase ovulation behavior. Increasing OA neuronal excitability compensated for a lack of ovulin received during mating. Moreover, we identified a mating-dependent relaxation of o

SUBMITTER: Rubinstein CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3808635 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature