资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

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) beta' lobe, which are different from the neurons required for the reinforcement of learning and short-term memory (STM). Synaptic output from alpha'beta' neurons is required for consolidation, whereas the output from gamma and alpha beta neurons is required for the retrieval of LTM. Finally, two types of MB efferent neurons retrieve LTM from gamma and alpha beta 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.