News Releases & Research Results A novel neurotransmitter mechanism for regulating mating-induced egg production

The results of research conducted by Professor Ryusuke Niwa of the Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, University of Tsukuba.

• A mechanism by which germline stem cells, i.e., the source of eggs in model animal Drosophila melanogaster, proliferate in response to mating stimuli was demonstrated to be regulated by neurons projecting to the ovaries.
• The neurons produce and release a neurotransmitter called octopamine. The binding of octopamine to its receptor in the ovaries is essential for mating-induced germline stem cell increase.
• The results of this research project should contribute to the elucidation of the regulatory mechanism of stem cells by neurons, commonly observed in animals.

This program was conducted with the support of the Advanced Research & Development Programs for Medical Innovation (AMED-CREST) by AMED.

The results were published in eLife on October 20.

Yoshinari Y., et al. Neuronal octopamine signaling regulates mating-induced germline stem cell increase in female Drosophila melanogaster eLife
DOI: 10.7554 /eLife.57101