Sensory neuron-derived eph regulates glomerular arbors and modulatory function of a central serotonergic neuron

PLoS Genet. 2013 Apr;9(4):e1003452. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003452. Epub 2013 Apr 18.

Abstract

Olfactory sensory neurons connect to the antennal lobe of the fly to create the primary units for processing odor cues, the glomeruli. Unique amongst antennal-lobe neurons is an identified wide-field serotonergic neuron, the contralaterally-projecting, serotonin-immunoreactive deutocerebral neuron (CSDn). The CSDn spreads its termini all over the contralateral antennal lobe, suggesting a diffuse neuromodulatory role. A closer examination, however, reveals a restricted pattern of the CSDn arborization in some glomeruli. We show that sensory neuron-derived Eph interacts with Ephrin in the CSDn, to regulate these arborizations. Behavioural analysis of animals with altered Eph-ephrin signaling and with consequent arborization defects suggests that neuromodulation requires local glomerular-specific patterning of the CSDn termini. Our results show the importance of developmental regulation of terminal arborization of even the diffuse modulatory neurons to allow them to route sensory-inputs according to the behavioural contexts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Odorants
  • Olfactory Pathways
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons*
  • Sensory Receptor Cells
  • Serotonergic Neurons*
  • Serotonin

Substances

  • Serotonin

Grants and funding

Core funding was provided by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research from its Department of Biological Sciences and the National Centre for Biological Sciences. We also thank the Department of Biotechnology, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Government of India. This work was also supported by the Department of Science and Technology grant SR/S5/NM-36/2005. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.