A central neural circuit for experience-independent olfactory and courtship behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

2001/12/11 by Gertrud Heimbeck, Véronique Bugnon, Nanaë Gendre +2 · 5 citations
Neuroscience · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Insect behavior and control techniques

paper · doi:10.1073/pnas.011314898

openalex publication_date 2001/12/11 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

We have studied the function of the major central olfactory pathway in fruit flies. Key elements of this pathway, the projection neurons (PNs), connect the antennal lobes with the lateral protocerebrum both directly and indirectly, the latter via the mushroom bodies (MBs). Transgenic expression of tetanus toxin in the majority of PNs and few MB neurons leads to defects in odor detection and male courtship. Considering behavioral data from flies lacking MBs, our results argue that the direct PN-to-lateral protocerebrum pathway is necessary and sufficient to process these experience-independent behaviors. Moreover, the involvement of an olfactory pathway in male courtship suggests a role of volatile attractive female pheromones in Drosophila.

Citations

• Smell and Taste Perception inDrosophila melanogasterLarva: Toxin Expression Studies in Chemosensory Neurons
• Classical conditioning and retention in normal and mutantDrosophila melanogaster
• Targeted gene expression as a means of altering cell fates and generating dominant phenotypes

Cited by

• Glomerular Maps without Cellular Redundancy at Successive Levels of the Drosophila Larval Olfactory Circuit
• The Olfactory Pathway of Adult and Larval Drosophila
• Molecular Architecture of Smell and Taste inDrosophila
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• Reinhard F. Stocker [wikipedia]