Cholinergic neurons mediate CaMKII-dependent enhancement of courtship suppression

Learn Mem. 2006 Nov-Dec;13(6):686-9. doi: 10.1101/lm.317806. Epub 2006 Nov 13.

Abstract

In Drosophila, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) activity is crucial in associative courtship conditioning for both memory formation and suppression of courtship during training with a mated female. We have previously shown that increasing levels of constitutively active CaMKII, but not calcium-dependent CaMKII, in a subset of neurons can decrease the initial level of courtship and enhance the rate of suppression of courtship in response to a mated female. In this study, we demonstrate that a subpopulation of noncholinergic, nondopaminergic, non-GABAergic neurons can cause CaMKII-dependent reductions in initial courtship, but only cholinergic neurons enhance training-dependent suppression. These data suggest that processing of pheromonal signals in two subpopulations of neurons, likely antennal lobe projection neurons, is critical for behavioral plasticity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Association Learning / physiology*
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / classification
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Cholinergic Fibers / enzymology
  • Conditioning, Classical / physiology
  • Courtship*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Drosophila
  • Female
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Male
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / enzymology*
  • Sense Organs / enzymology
  • Sense Organs / innervation
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology*

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Calcium