Figure 12.

Thermogenetic activation of PMPV neurons affects mating behavior. A, Mating behavior of wild-type males toward virgin females expressing mCherry-dTRPA1 in 5-HT neurons of the PMPV cluster covered by R66A09-Gal4, R67B05-Gal4, or genetic control strains at 18°C and 29°C. For neither female genotype male courtship behavior or the frequency of copulation attempts was significantly different between 18°C and 29°C. However, copulation success (female receptivity) was significantly reduced due to thermogenetic activation of PMPV neurons. n = 29–32. Those males that succeeded to copulate showed unaltered copulation latency (n indicated within the bars). B, Mating behavior of males expressing mCherry-dTRPA1 in PMPV neurons covered by R66A09-Gal4, R67B05-Gal4, or genetic control strains toward wild-type virgin females at 18°C and 29°C. Thermogenetic activation of PMPV neurons in males significantly reduced overall courtship behavior, but not wing extension frequency. The frequency of copulation attempts and copulation success was significantly reduced (n = 30–33). Those males that succeeded to mate showed unaltered copulation latency (n indicated within the bars). Bars indicate means; error bars indicate SEM. n.s., Not significant (p > 0.05). *p < 0.05. **p < 0.01. ***p < 0.001.