Pharyngeal stimulation with sugar triggers local searching behavior in Drosophila.
Title | Pharyngeal stimulation with sugar triggers local searching behavior in Drosophila. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2017 |
Authors | Murata S, Brockmann A, Tanimura T |
Journal | J Exp Biol |
Date Published | 2017 Jul 06 |
ISSN | 1477-9145 |
Abstract | Foraging behavior is essential for all organisms to find food containing nutritional chemicals. A hungry fly of Drosophila melanogaster performs local searching behavior after drinking a small amount of sugar solution. Using video tracking we examined how the searching behavior is regulated in D. melanogaster We found that a small amount of highly concentrated sugar solution induced a long-lasting searching behavior. After the intake of sugar solution, a fly moved around in circles and repeatedly returned to the position where the sugar droplet had been placed. The non-nutritious sugar, D-arabinose, but not the non-sweet nutritious sugar, D-sorbitol, was effective in inducing the behavior, indicating that sweet sensation is essential. Furthermore, pox-neuro mutant flies with no external taste bristles showed local searching behavior, suggesting the involvement of the pharyngeal taste organ. Experimental activation of pharyngeal sugar-sensitive gustatory receptor neurons by capsaicin using the Gal4/UAS system induced local searching behavior. In contrast, inhibition of pharyngeal sugar-responsive gustatory receptor neurons abolished the searching behavior. Together our results indicate that in Drosophila the pharyngeal taste-receptor neurons trigger searching behavior immediately after ingestion. |
DOI | 10.1242/jeb.161646 |
Alternate Journal | J. Exp. Biol. |
PubMed ID | 28684466 |