Love hangover

Abstract

In many species, males have developed strategies to safeguard their genetic material from dilution by that of competing males. Fruitflies achieve this by altering the behaviour of their partners.Sex can be transformative. Humans often romanticize the after-effects of copulation, but for most organisms there are real biological consequences to mating that go beyond the transfer of sperm. Most species have strategies for protecting their genetic investment that can involve alterations in both the biology and behaviour of the mating partners. For example, in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster a component of seminal fluid, known as sex peptide, leads to increased egg-laying by the mated female and behavioural changes that reduce the likelihood of her re-mating. How sex peptide triggers such a complex array of effects was unknown. On page 33 of this issue, Yapici et al. 1 identify the receptor for sex peptide and show that it is expressed in the reproductive tract and in a subset of female neurons believed to be involved in sexual behaviour.

Multiple pathways mediate the sex-peptide-regulated switch in female Drosophila reproductive behaviours

“…To guarantee reproductive success, control of pregnancy-associated alterations in behaviours is believed to be mostly hard-wired into the brain. In many species including most insects, male-derived substances transferred during mating impact on female physiology and postmating behaviours probably by interfering with female control of reproduction [1][2][3]. How mating-induced alterations of reproductive physiology and behaviour are implemented into the female brain, however, is not well understood, but probably includes multi-level control involving stimulatory and inhibitory neuronal circuits adapting the postmating response to the physiological status of the female and to environmental conditions.…”