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- Title
Sensory perception of dead conspecifics induces aversive cues and modulates lifespan through serotonin in Drosophila.
- Authors
Chakraborty, Tuhin S.; Gendron, Christi M.; Lyu, Yang; Munneke, Allyson S.; DeMarco, Madeline N.; Hoisington, Zachary W.; Pletcher, Scott D.
- Abstract
Sensory perception modulates health and aging across taxa. Understanding the nature of relevant cues and the mechanisms underlying their action may lead to novel interventions that improve the length and quality of life. We found that in the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, exposure to dead conspecifics in the environment induced cues that were aversive to other flies, modulated physiology, and impaired longevity. The effects of exposure to dead conspecifics on aversiveness and lifespan required visual and olfactory function in the exposed flies. Furthermore, the sight of dead flies was sufficient to produce aversive cues and to induce changes in the head metabolome. Genetic and pharmacologic attenuation of serotonergic signaling eliminated the effects of exposure on aversiveness and lifespan. Our results indicate that Drosophila have an ability to perceive dead conspecifics in their environment and suggest conserved mechanistic links between neural state, health, and aging; the roots of which might be unearthed using invertebrate model systems. Different sensory experiences can affect longevity in Drosophila. Here the authors find that exposure of Drosophila directly to dead conspecifics affects longevity via a serotonergic mechanism, and that Drosophila exposed to dead conspecifics also become an aversive stimulus to naïve choosers.
- Publication
Nature Communications, 2019, Vol 10, Issue 1, pN.PAG
- ISSN
2041-1723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41467-019-10285-y