Nature Communications
Nature Communications
5 years ago

Neural circuits for long-term water-reward memory processing in thirsty Drosophila

Neural circuits for long-term water-reward memory processing in thirsty Drosophila
Tony Wu, Wei-Huan Shyu, Tsai-Feng Fu, Tai-Hsiang Chiu, Meng-Hsuan Chiang, Ya-Lun Tsai, Yu-Chin Cheng, Chia-Lin Wu
The intake of water is important for the survival of all animals and drinking water can be used as a reward in thirsty animals. Here we found that thirsty Drosophila melanogaster can associate drinking water with an odour to form a protein-synthesis-dependent water-reward long-term memory (LTM). Furthermore, we found that the reinforcement of LTM requires water-responsive dopaminergic neurons projecting to the restricted region of mushroom body (MB) β′ lobe, which are different from the neurons required for the reinforcement of learning and short-term memory (STM). Synaptic output from α′β′ neurons is required for consolidation, whereas the output from γ and αβ neurons is required for the retrieval of LTM. Finally, two types of MB efferent neurons retrieve LTM from γ and αβ neurons by releasing glutamate and acetylcholine, respectively. Our results therefore cast light on the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for processing water-reward LTM in Drosophila.

Publisher URL: http://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15230

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15230

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