Sexually dimorphic peripheral sensory neurons regulate copulation duration and persistence in male Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: Peripheral sensory neurons are the gateway to the environment across species. In Drosophila, olfactory and gustatory senses are required to initiate courtship, as well as for the escalation of courtship patterns that lead to copulation. To be successful, copulation must last long enough to ensure the transfer of sperm and seminal fluid that ultimately leads to fertilization. The peripheral sensory information required to regulate copulation duration is unclear. Here, we employed genetic manipulations that allow driving gene expression in the male genitalia as a tool to uncover the role of these genitalia specific neurons in copulation. The fly genitalia contain sex-specific bristle hairs innervated by mechanosensory neurons. To date, the role of the sensory information collected by these p

SUBMITTER: Jois S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9007984 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature