Mechanosensory stimulation viaNanchungexpressing neurons can induce daytime sleep inDrosophila

Abstract

1The neurogenetic bases of sleep, a phenomenon considered crucial for well-being of organisms has 3 2 recently been under investigation using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Although 3sleep is a state where sensory threshold for arousal is enhanced, it is known that certain kinds of 3 4repetitive sensory stimuli such as rocking, can in fact promote sleep in humans. Here we report that 3 5 orbital motion aided mechanosensory stimulation promotes sleep in Drosophila, independent of the 3 6 circadian clock, but controlled by the homeostatic system. Mechanosensory receptor nanchung (Nan) 3 7 expressing neurons in the chordotonal organs mediate this sleep induction -flies where these neurons 3 8 are either silenced or ablated display significantly reduced sleep induction upon mechanosensory 3 9 stimulation. Transient activation of the Nan-expressing neurons also enhances sleep levels 4 0 confirming the role of these neurons in sleep induction. Thus, we show for the first time that 4 1 mechanosensory stimulation promotes sleep even in flies D. melanogaster and that it is mediated by 4 2 proprioceptors. 4 3

Mutation of theDrosophilaserotonin transporter dSERT disrupts courtship and feeding and increases both daytime and nighttime sleep

“…We first used the broad serotonergic driver TRH-Gal4 (52) to express UAS-dSERT. Although, sleep in the fly has been generally approached as a single behavior, some genes and environmental factors can preferentially affect one phase (53)(54)(55)(56). Expression of UAS-dSERT using TRH-Gal4 did not fully reverse the increase in total sleep across the 24-LD cycle in dSERT 16 mutants (Figure 6A-B).…”