Laurent Patrick
Neurophysiology Lab, ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI),Universite´ Libre Bruxelles (ULB),Brussels, Belgium.
J Biosci. 2025;50.
How does a single neuron type shape both short- and long-term behavior? A study reveals how co-transmission by two hermaphrodite-specific neurons (HSNs) of produces both transient and long-lasting effects on its egg-laying behavior. A key question in neuroscience is how neurons and circuits integrate information to drive behavior. In the nematode , locomotion, feeding, defecation and egg-laying motor programs are all generated by a simple nervous system consisting of 302 neurons whose connectivity patterns are fully described (White . 1986). Egg-laying behavior allows dispersal of eggs in the most appropriate locations. The egg-laying circuit consists of two hermaphrodite-specific serotonergic neurons (HSNs) and six ventral cholinergic C-neurons (VCs) connected to the vulval muscle. In addition, neuroendocrine cells mechanically respond to egg laying by the release of tyramine and neuropeptides. Together, they produce a rhythmic behavior modulated by environmental cues that alternates between egg-laying phases and resting periods (Hardaker . 2001; Ringstad and Horvitz 2008; Fenk and de Bono 2015). How can such a simple circuit generate rhythmic and regulated behavior?
单一神经元类型如何塑造短期和长期行为？一项研究揭示了雌雄同体特异性神经元（HSN）的双重神经递质释放如何对其产卵行为产生瞬时和持久的影响。神经科学中的一个关键问题是神经元和神经回路如何整合信息以驱动行为。在秀丽隐杆线虫中，运动、进食、排便和产卵运动程序均由一个由302个神经元组成的简单神经系统产生，其连接模式已被完全描述（怀特，1986年）。产卵行为使卵能散布在最合适的位置。产卵回路由两个雌雄同体特异性血清素能神经元（HSN）和六个与外阴肌肉相连的腹侧胆碱能C神经元（VC）组成。此外，神经内分泌细胞通过释放酪胺和神经肽对产卵产生机械反应。它们共同产生一种受环境线索调节的节律性行为，在产卵阶段和休息期之间交替（哈达克，2001年；林斯塔德和霍维茨，2008年；芬克和德博诺，2015年）。这样一个简单的回路如何产生有节律且受调节的行为呢？
