Doublesex gene expression in the central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster

Despite several behavior-genetic studies that have suggested roles played by doublesex (dsx) in neural tissues, it has not been demonstrated that the products of this gene are actually present in the central nervous system (CNS). In this report, we describe the cellular, spatial, and temporal expression patterns of dsx gene products in the developing and adult CNS by applying RT-PCR and immunohistochemical procedures. dsx gene products were detected in the CNS of 3rd-instar larvae, pupae, and adults. DSX-immunoreactive signals were observed within the brain and in both the thoracic plus abdominal ganglia of the ventral nerve cord. Most, but not all, cells inferred to contain DSX proteins (by the results of genetic controls for antibody specificity) were further determined to be neurons (by coexpression of a protein that marks such CNS cell types). Temporally varying expression of DSX was most prominently observed in the rapidly metamorphosing early and mid-pupal stages, suggesting that this gene contributes to establishment of sexually dimorphic neuronal structures which subserve adult sexual behaviors. Elements of the spatial and temporal patterns of DSX immunoreactivity also imply that sexually dimorphic dsx expression in certain neuronal clusters within the adult CNS could participate in ongoing operations of the mature nervous system with respect to the courtship behaviors that are affected by dsx mutations.