Developmental remodeling repurposes larval neurons for sexual behaviors in adult Drosophila

Curr Biol. 2024 Feb 10:S0960-9822(24)00102-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.065. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMost larval neurons in Drosophila are repurposed during metamorphosis for functions in adult life, but their contribution to the neural circuits for sexually dimorphic behaviors is unknown. Here, we identify two interneurons in the nerve cord of adult Drosophila females that control ovipositor extrusion, a courtship rejection behavior performed by mated females. We show that these two neurons are present in the nerve cord of larvae as mature, sexually monomorphic interneurons. During pupal development, they acquire the expression of the sexual differentiation gene, doublesex; undergo doublesex-dependent programmed cell death in males; and are remodeled in females for functions in female mating behavior. Our results demonstrate that the neural circuits for courtship in Drosophila are built in part using neurons that are sexually reprogrammed from former sex-shared activities in larval life.PMID:38377996 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.065

Source: Current Biology - February 20, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Julia A Diamandi Julia C Duckhorn Kara E Miller Mason Weinstock Sofia Leone Micaela R Murphy Troy R Shirangi Source Type: research