Neural mechanisms for the evolutionary acquisition of the nuptial gift

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K15137
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 44050:Animal physiological chemistry, physiology and behavioral biology-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Ryoya 名古屋大学, 理学研究科, 助教 (00839409)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 婚姻贈呈 / ショウジョウバエ / 神経回路

Outline of Final Research Achievements

‘Nuptial gift’ is known in a wide range of animal taxa and is believed to have been acquired evolutionarily independently. However, due to the complexity of the mechanisms controlling the behavior, the neural mechanisms controlling ‘nuptial gift’ are not well understood: males of Drosophila subobscura exhibit ‘nuptial gift’. We have previously shown that nuptial gifts in D. subobscura are controlled by neuropeptidergic cells in the brain, but the upstream and downstream circuits were not clear. In the present study, the upstream and downstream circuits of this neuropeptidergic cell have been identified.

Free Research Field

神経行動学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

動物が示すユニークな求愛戦略は、当研究が対象とする昆虫の仲間から哺乳類までさまざまな動物で見られる。そうした行動がどのような脳や神経の働きで作られているかには不明な点が多い。本研究は、ユニークな求愛戦略の背後に潜む神経メカニズムを高い解像度で明らかにした点で、学術的な意義が大きい。昆虫の繁殖行動の詳細な仕組みを解明した本研究は、繁殖を作用点とした害虫の制御方策につながることが期待される。