Abstract
In many insect species, mating stimuli can lead to changes in various behavioral and physiological responses, including feeding, mating refusal, egg-laying behavior, energy demand, and organ remodeling, which are collectively known as the post-mating response. Recently, an increase in germline stem cells (GSCs) has been identified as a new post-mating response in both males and females of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We have extensively studied mating-induced increase in female GSCs of D. melanogaster at the molecular, cellular, and systemic levels. After mating, the male seminal fluid peptide [e.g. sex peptide (SP)] is transferred to the female uterus. This is followed by binding to the sex peptide receptor (SPR), which evokes post-mating responses, including increase in number of female GSCs. Downstream of SP-SPR signaling, the following three hormones and neurotransmitters have been found to act on female GSC niche cells to regulate mating-induced increase in female GSCs: (1) neuropeptide F, a peptide hormone produced in enteroendocrine cells; (2) octopamine, a monoaminergic neurotransmitter synthesized in ovary-projecting neurons; and (3) ecdysone, a steroid hormone produced in ovarian follicular cells. These humoral factors are secreted from each organ and are received by ovarian somatic cells and regulate the strength of niche signaling in female GSCs. This review provides an overview of the latest findings on the inter-organ relationship to regulate mating-induced female GSC increase in D. melanogaster as a model. We also discuss the remaining issues that should be addressed in the future.
Highlights
In many animal species, mating transfers sperms to females, and induces different behavioral and physiological changes that are known as the post-mating response; this response has been reported in both vertebrates and invertebrates
We focus on the role of the neuroendocrine system in transmitting mating stimuli to female germline stem cells (GSCs) and discuss the future direction of our research
The mating-induced increase in female GSC still occurs in brainspecific neuropeptide F (NPF) knockdown animals, whereas NPF knockdown in enteroendocrine cells (EECs) impairs matinginduced increase in female GSCs (Ameku et al, 2018). These results demonstrate that EEC-derived NPF contributes to an increase in female GSC after mating
Summary
In many animal species, mating transfers sperms to females, and induces different behavioral and physiological changes that are known as the post-mating response; this response has been reported in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In animals that do not have an estrus cycle (so-called induced ovulators such as rabbits, cats, and minks), mating stimuli can induce the formation of a follicular cavity and ovulation (Bakker and Baum, 2000). In some female moths, such as the corn earworm Helicoverpa zea, the old world bollworm Helicoverpa armigera, and the silkworm Bombyx mori, the secretion of sex pheromones to attract males decreases after mating, which is followed by termination of calling behavior and initiation of oviposition behavior (Bali et al, 1996; Rafaeli, 2002; Nagalakshmi et al, 2007)
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