Transcriptional programs are activated and microRNAs are repressed within minutes after mating in the Drosophila melanogaster female reproductive tract.

Background: The female reproductive tract is exposed directly to the male's ejaculate, making it a hotspot for mating-induced responses. In Drosophila melanogaster, changes in the reproductive tract are essential to optimize fertility. Many changes occur within minutes after mating, but such early timepoints are absent from published RNA-seq studies.