Metabolic pathways that mediate the effects of food deprivation on reproductive behavior in female .

In most species studied, energy deficits inhibit female reproductive behavior, but the location and nature of energy sensors and how they affect behavior are unknown. Progress has been facilitated by using , a species in which reproduction and food availability are closely linked. Adult males and females were either fed or food deprived (FD) and then tested in an arena with a fed, opposite-sex conspecific with no food in the testing arena.