A subset of DN1p neurons integrates thermosensory inputs to promote wakefulness via CNMa signaling

Mar 19, 2021Current biology : CB

A group of brain cells senses temperature to promote wakefulness through CNMa signals

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Prolonged increases in ambient temperature induce a reversible sleep reduction and impaired sleep consolidation in Drosophila.

Ambient temperature shifts can affect sleep patterns in both humans and Drosophila.
Activation of anterior cells (ACs) in response to higher temperatures is linked to increased wakefulness.
ACs form connections with specific posterior dorsal neuron 1 (DN1p) neurons, which release acetylcholine.
The DN1p neurons promote wakefulness by releasing CNMamide neuropeptides.
CNMamide inhibits Dh44-positive pars intercerebralis (PI) neurons through specific receptors.
The AC-DN1p-PI neural circuit integrates temperature signals into sleep regulation.

AI simplified

Sleep is an essential and evolutionarily conserved behavior that is modulated by many environmental factors. Ambient temperature shifting usually occurs during climatic or seasonal change or travel from high-latitude area to low-latitude area that affects animal physiology. Increasing ambient temperature modulates sleep in both humans and Drosophila. Although several thermosensory molecules and neurons have been identified, the neural mechanisms that integrate temperature sensation into the sleep neural circuit remain poorly understood. Here, we reveal that prolonged increasing of ambient temperature induces a reversible sleep reduction and impaired sleep consolidation in Drosophila via activating the internal thermosensory anterior cells (ACs). ACs form synaptic contacts with a subset of posterior dorsal neuron 1 (DN1p) neurons and release acetylcholine to promote wakefulness. Furthermore, we identify that this subset of DN1ps promotes wakefulness by releasing CNMamide (CNMa) neuropeptides to inhibit the Dh44-positive pars intercerebralis (PI) neurons through CNMa receptors. Our study demonstrates that the AC-DN1p-PI neural circuit is responsible for integrating thermosensory inputs into the sleep neural circuit. Moreover, we identify the CNMa signaling pathway as a newly recognized wakefulness-promoting DN1 pathway.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text (XML) ↗View full text ↗

A subset of DN1p neurons integrates thermosensory inputs to promote wakefulness via CNMa signaling

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief