Feeding-to-mating switch (IMAGE)

University of California - San Diego

Feeding-to-mating switch

Caption

Male fruit flies rapidly switch from feeding to courtship behavior after consuming protein-rich food. Amino acids trigger the release of the neuropeptide Dh31 from the gut, which in turn activates Dh31R-expressing neurons in the brain to terminate feeding and initiate courtship through two parallel circuits.

Credit

Wang Lab, UC San Diego

Usage Restrictions

Must be used in conjunction with Nature paper on gut-to-brain communication.

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Original content

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