Boutros Christine L, Miner Lauren E, Mazor Ofer, Zhang Stephen X
F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital.
Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center, Harvard Medical School; Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School.
J Vis Exp. 2017 Feb 15(120):55291. doi: 10.3791/55291.
Despite decades of investigation, the neuronal and molecular bases of motivational states remain mysterious. We have recently developed a novel, reductionist, and scalable system for in-depth investigation of motivation using the mating drive of male Drosophila melanogaster (Drosophila), the methods for which we detail here. The behavioral paradigm centers on the finding that male mating drive decreases alongside fertility over the course of repeated copulations and recovers over ~3 d. In this system, the powerful neurogenetic tools available in the fly converge with the genetic accessibility and putative wiring diagram available for sexual behavior. This convergence allows rapid isolation and interrogation of small neuronal populations with specific motivational functions. Here we detail the design and execution of the satiety assay that is used to measure and alter courtship motivation in the male fly. Using this assay, we also demonstrate that low male mating drive can be overcome by stimulating dopaminergic neurons. The satiety assay is simple, affordable, and robust to influences of genetic background. We expect the satiety assay to generate many new insights into the neurobiology of motivational states.
尽管经过了数十年的研究，动机状态的神经元和分子基础仍然神秘莫测。我们最近开发了一种新颖、简化且可扩展的系统，用于利用雄性黑腹果蝇（果蝇）的交配驱动力深入研究动机，我们在此详细介绍其方法。行为范式的核心是发现雄性交配驱动力在重复交配过程中会随着生育能力下降，并在约3天内恢复。在这个系统中，果蝇中可用的强大神经遗传学工具与性行为可用的遗传可及性和假定的布线图相结合。这种结合使得能够快速分离和研究具有特定动机功能的小神经元群体。在此，我们详细介绍用于测量和改变雄性果蝇求偶动机的饱腹感测定法的设计和实施。使用该测定法，我们还证明了通过刺激多巴胺能神经元可以克服雄性低交配驱动力。饱腹感测定法简单、经济实惠且对遗传背景的影响具有稳健性。我们期望饱腹感测定法能为动机状态的神经生物学带来许多新的见解。
