Chemoreception in Insects

Dethier, V. G.; Chadwick, L. E.

doi:10.1152/physrev.1948.28.2.220

Cited by 84 publications

(26 citation statements)

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“…The tarsi contain chemosensory neurons that detect contact-based chemical cues (Dethier and Chadwick, 1948; Dunipace et al, 2001; Frings and Frings, 1949; Scott et al, 2001). The fly genome encodes a gene family of gustatory receptors (Grs) that are expressed in chemosensory neurons (Clyne et al, 2000; Dunipace et al, 2001; Hallem et al, 2006; Scott, 2005; Scott et al, 2001).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and Neural Mechanisms that Inhibit Drosophila from Mating with Other Species

Fan

Manoli

Ahmed

et al. 2013

Cell

148

161

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SUMMARY Genetically hard-wired neural mechanisms must enforce behavioral reproductive isolation because interspecies courtship is rare even in sexually naïve animals of most species. We find that the chemoreceptor Gr32a inhibits male D. melanogaster from courting diverse fruit fly species. Gr32a recognizes non-volatile aversive cues present on these reproductively dead-end targets, and activity of Gr32a neurons is necessary and sufficient to inhibit interspecies courtship. Male-specific Fruitless (FruM), a master regulator of courtship, also inhibits interspecies courtship. Gr32a and FruM are not co-expressed, but FruM neurons contact Gr32a neurons, suggesting that these genes influence a shared neural circuit that inhibits inter-species courtship. Gr32a and FruM also suppress within-species intermale courtship, but we show that distinct mechanisms preclude sexual displays toward conspecific males and other species. Although this chemosensory pathway does not inhibit interspecies mating in D. melanogaster females, similar mechanisms appear to inhibit this behavior in many other male drosophilids.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and Neural Mechanisms that Inhibit Drosophila from Mating with Other Species

Fan

Manoli

Ahmed

et al. 2013

Cell

148

161

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“…Parker. ) sensitivity to vapors analogous to the skin sensitivity of amphibians and to the sensitivity of mucous membranes of man continued to invite discussion (3). Electrophysiological analyses have now provided evidence for sensitivity in insects that is compatible with the concept of a common chemical sense.…”

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confidence: 96%

Sensitivity of the Contact Chemoreceptors of the Blowfly to Vapors

Dethier

1972

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Unless otherwise noted, food-deprived adults were tested on the third day of adult life, and males and females were used indiscriminately (2).…”

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confidence: 99%

Stimulation of blowfly feeding behavior by octopaminergic drugs

Long

Murdock

1983

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Adult blowflies (Phormia regina Meigen) injected with the octopaminergic drug demethylchlordimeform (10 jug per fly) exhibited enhanced proboscis extension responses when their tarsae were touched to water or aqueous sucrose. They drank more water than saline-injected control flies did but the quantity imbibed was within the normal fluid intake capacity. They became grossly hyperphagic when offered 1 M sucrose, doubling (and in some cases even tripling) their initial body weights. Three other drugs enhanced tarsal responsiveness and induced hyperphagia: DL-octopamine, clonidine (which is known to stimulate octopaminergic receptors in insects), and pargyline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Yohimbine, an antagonist of one class of octopaminergic receptor in insects, prevented the hyperphagia induced by all four drugs. Dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and DL-norepinephrine failed to cause hyperphagia. These results suggest that octopaminergic receptors in the nervous system of the blowfly positively modulate feeding and drinldng behavior.In attempting to understand the neural and chemical mechanisms by which insect feeding behavior might be regulated, we injected neuroactive drugs into hungry adult blowflies (Phormia regina Meigen) and observed subsequent feeding behavior. P. regina was chosen for our studies because a great deal is known about its responses to food stimuli and its food consumption behavior (1). We focused on two components of feeding activity: (i) responsiveness to food stimuli as indicated by proboscis extension when the tarsi of the fly were touched to dilute sucrose solutions and (ii) actual consumption of 1 M sucrose, a strong stimulus to feeding. Our results demonstrate that blowfly feeding behavior can be manipulated by specific drugs and suggest that receptors of an octopaminergic type may be involved in the regulation of feeding and drinking in these insects.MATERIALS AND METHODS P. regina larvae were reared on liver; emerging adults were held for 2 days with water available ad lib but without food. Unless otherwise noted, food-deprived adults were tested on the third day of adult life, and males and females were used indiscriminately (2).One hour prior to determination of fluid intake, flies were anesthetized with C02, weighed, and affixed to a 15-cm length of applicator stick by a droplet of warm wax applied to the dorsum of the thorax. Food consumption was estimated by holding groups of 10 flies with their tarsi in contact with 1 M sucrose or water in such a way that they could extend their mouthparts and imbibe the solution. Flies (plus attached sticks) were weighed to the nearest mg (Cahn DTL electrobalance, Cerritos, CA) shortly before presentation of the solution to be imbibed. The flies were allowed to imbibe the solution for 30 min and then were reweighed. The data obtained enabled us to calculate the amount of 1 M sucrose or water consumed by each fly. Unless otherwise noted, drugs were dissolved in 145 mM NaCl and injected into the hemocoel in a volume of 1 p1. Control fl...

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Chemoreception in Insects

Cited by 84 publications

References 0 publications

Genetic and Neural Mechanisms that Inhibit Drosophila from Mating with Other Species

Genetic and Neural Mechanisms that Inhibit Drosophila from Mating with Other Species

Sensitivity of the Contact Chemoreceptors of the Blowfly to Vapors

Stimulation of blowfly feeding behavior by octopaminergic drugs

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