Male pheromones modulate synaptic transmission at the C. elegans neuromuscular junction in a sexually dimorphic manner.

ABSTRACT: The development of functional synapses in the nervous system is important for animal physiology and behaviors, and its disturbance has been linked with many neurodevelopmental disorders. The synaptic transmission efficacy can be modulated by the environment to accommodate external changes, which is crucial for animal reproduction and survival. However, the underlying plasticity of synaptic transmission remains poorly understood. Here we show that in Caenorhabditis elegans, the male environment increases the hermaphrodite cholinergic transmission at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), which alters hermaphrodites' locomotion velocity and mating efficiency. We identify that the male-specific pheromones mediate this synaptic transmission modulation effect in a developmental stage-dependen

SUBMITTER: Qian KY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8051947 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature