PVX

Type: Interneuron
Male Wiring Project: PVX
In Wormbase: PVX
Lineage: P12.aap
Location: Preanal ganglion
Description: Postembryonically born. Male specific interneuron. Postsynaptic in ring and ventral cord

Neurotransmitter/ Neuropeptide:
- Acetylcholine
- Possibly PDF-1; pigment dispensing factor homolog
(Sherlekar et al, 2013; Barrios et al, 2012)
Innexin expression:
Receptor expression:
Function:
- Plays role in backing during vulva search in male mating behavior as auxiliary to PVY. When not engaged in mating male animal's default directional bias, similar to the hermaphrodite's, is forward locomotion. This is due to high levels of activity in the AVB-driven forward pathway of the sex-shared locomotory system and ensures exploration. Contact with mate, on the other hand, activates ray neurons which activate PVY and PVX. PVY/PVX, in turn, preferentially activate AVA-driven backward locomotion system through ACh release and ACh receptors ACR-18, ACR-16 and UNC-29 on AVA neuron, allowing for contact-based search of the hermaphrodite's surface for vulva location (Sherlekar et al, 2013; Emmons and Sternberg, 1997)
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