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Ostap-Chec M, Bajorek D, Antoł W, Stec D, Miler K. Occasional and constant exposure to dietary ethanol shortens the lifespan of worker honey bees. J Comp Physiol B 2024; 194:403-410. [PMID: 38880794 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-024-01571-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are one of the most crucial pollinators, providing vital ecosystem services. Their development and functioning depend on essential nutrients and substances found in the environment. While collecting nectar as a vital carbohydrate source, bees routinely encounter low doses of ethanol from yeast fermentation. Yet, the effects of repeated ethanol exposure on bees' survival and physiology remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the impacts of constant and occasional consumption of food spiked with 1% ethanol on honey bee mortality and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity. This ethanol concentration might be tentatively judged close to that in natural conditions. We conducted an experiment in which bees were exposed to three types of long-term diets: constant sugar solution (control group that simulated conditions of no access to ethanol), sugar solution spiked with ethanol every third day (that simulated occasional, infrequent exposure to ethanol) and daily ethanol consumption (simulating constant, routine exposure to ethanol). The results revealed that both constant and occasional ethanol consumption increased the mortality of bees, but only after several days. These mortality rates rose with the frequency of ethanol intake. The ADH activity remained similar in bees from all groups. Our findings indicate that exposure of bees to ethanol carries harmful effects that accumulate over time. Further research is needed to pinpoint the exact ethanol doses ingested with food and exposure frequency in bees in natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Ostap-Chec
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Prof. St. Łojasiewicza 11 St., 30-348, Kraków, Poland.
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7 St., 30-387 , Kraków, Poland.
| | - Daniel Bajorek
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17 St., 31-016, Kraków, Poland
| | - Weronika Antoł
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17 St., 31-016, Kraków, Poland
| | - Daniel Stec
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17 St., 31-016, Kraków, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Miler
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17 St., 31-016, Kraków, Poland.
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2
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Stauch KLN, Black TE, Abramson CI. Preliminary Analysis of Genetic Markers for Functional Ethanol Tolerance in Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera) Using a Free-Flying Paradigm. INSECTS 2024; 15:494. [PMID: 39057227 PMCID: PMC11277305 DOI: 10.3390/insects15070494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Honey bees are a commonly used species for alcohol research due to their genome being fully sequenced, their behavioral changes following consumption, and their preference for alcohol. The purpose of this article is to provide a preliminary examination of the genetic expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and big potassium ion channel protein (BKP) in honey bees following the consumption of either 0%, 2.5%, 5%, or 10% ethanol (EtOH) solutions. The foraging behaviors of the bees were observed and recorded through their return and drinking times. There were significant differences in the return and drinking times between some of the groups. The bees in the 10% condition took significantly longer to return compared to the other groups. Additionally, the bees in the 5% group spent significantly more time drinking compared to the bees in the control (0%) group. There were no significant differences in HSP70 or BKP between the different ethanol groups. Cumulatively, these findings suggest that, while bees may exhibit behavioral differences, the differences in gene expression may not be observed at the transcriptional level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiri Li N. Stauch
- Laboratory of Comparative Psychology and Behavioral Biology, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Timothy E. Black
- Department of Neuroscience & Psychological Sciences, Weber State University, Ogden, UT 84403, USA
| | - Charles I. Abramson
- Laboratory of Comparative Psychology and Behavioral Biology, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
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Ayad AS, Benchaabane S, Daas T, Smagghe G, Loucif-Ayad W. Assessment of Efficacy of Algerian Propolis against the Parasitic Mite Varroa destructor and Safety for Honey Bees by Spray Treatment. INSECTS 2024; 15:75. [PMID: 38276824 PMCID: PMC10816108 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Varroa destructor is an ectoparasitic mite and is considered one of the most important causes of honey bee population loss. In the last years, substances of botanical origin have emerged as natural alternatives to diminish the mite population levels. Propolis is a natural product and is used by honey bees for multiple tasks, including protection from pathogens and parasites, and varroacidal activity of propolis extracts has been shown. In this study, we investigated the potential of propolis, collected by native Algerian honey bee subspecies (Apis mellifera intermissa and A. m. sahariensis) in different locations in Algeria and extracted by ultrasound, to control mites of V. destructor and tested the safety for the honey bees. The most important results were that the best propolis extracts at 10% killed 100% of the Varroa mites within 3-4 h in a Petri dish assay. In addition, when we sprayed A. m. intermissa bees infested with Varroa mites with a 10% concentration in a mini-hive setup, we scored a high mite mortality of 85-87% with the best propolis extracts, and importantly, there was no mortality in the bees. Our data demonstrated that propolis extracts in Algeria could be used in honey bee colonies by spraying against Varroa mite infestations, which may develop as an easy method for local beekeepers to control Varroa in their hives. Further research should investigate the mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Sabri Ayad
- Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Badji Mokhtar University, Annaba 23000, Algeria; (A.S.A.); (T.D.)
| | - Samia Benchaabane
- Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Badji Mokhtar University, Annaba 23000, Algeria; (A.S.A.); (T.D.)
| | - Tarek Daas
- Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Badji Mokhtar University, Annaba 23000, Algeria; (A.S.A.); (T.D.)
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Department of Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wahida Loucif-Ayad
- Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Badji Mokhtar University, Annaba 23000, Algeria; (A.S.A.); (T.D.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Badji Mokhtar University, Annaba 23000, Algeria
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4
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Korczyńska J, Szczuka A, Urzykowska J, Kochanowski M, Andrzejczyk NG, Piwowarek KJ, Godzińska EJ. The Effects of Ethanol and Acetic acid on Behaviour of Extranidal Workers of the Narrow-Headed Ant Formica exsecta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) during a Field Experiment. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2734. [PMID: 37684998 PMCID: PMC10486794 DOI: 10.3390/ani13172734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ethanol addiction belongs to the most important problems encountered in the domain of human mental health. The research on the behavioural effects of exposure to/consumption of ethanol are investigated largely with the help of animal models that also include insects, mainly fruit flies and honeybees. The effects of ethanol on ant behaviour remain, however, little known. In the present field study, we investigated the behaviour of workers of the narrow-headed ant (Formica exsecta) displayed in the vicinity of cotton pads soaked in water or in water solutions of ethanol or acetic acid during 5 min tests (n = 30 tests in each group). Both ethanol and acetic acid induced significant modifications of ant locomotion, exploratory behaviour, self-grooming behaviour, and aggressive social behaviour. We confirmed that acetic acid is aversive for the ants, but ethanol enhances their exploratory behaviour. We also found out that field studies may document more types of responses to experimental compounds than laboratory ones, as the tested animals may also escape from aversive substances. Our findings documented a wide spectrum of behavioural effects of exposure to ethanol and acetic acid in a highly social animal species and broadened the general knowledge about behavioural responses to these compounds encountered in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Korczyńska
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
| | - Anna Szczuka
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
| | - Julia Urzykowska
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
- Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Ilji Miecznikowa 1, PL 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Kochanowski
- Botanic Garden, University of Warsaw, Aleje Ujazdowskie 4, PL 00-478 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Neptun Gabriela Andrzejczyk
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Ilji Miecznikowa 1, PL 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (N.G.A.); (K.J.P.)
| | - Kacper Jerzy Piwowarek
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Ilji Miecznikowa 1, PL 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (N.G.A.); (K.J.P.)
| | - Ewa Joanna Godzińska
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
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Yu G, Li Z, Zhao Y, Liu J, Peng Y. An Ant-Mimicking Jumping Spider Achieves Higher Predation Probability with Lower Success Rate When Exposed to Ethanol. INSECTS 2022; 13:1009. [PMID: 36354833 PMCID: PMC9694002 DOI: 10.3390/insects13111009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ethanol (ETOH) affects many animals' behaviour in nature; for example, honeybees become more aggressive after consuming ETOH. In previous studies, scientists have used honeybees and fruit flies as models to determine if they showed a strong preference to ETOH. Moreover, ETOH could affect their locomotion and learning abilities. However, whether and how ETOH affects spiders is unclear as of yet. In this study, we used empirical experiments to determine whether spiders showed preference for ETOH, as well as the potential benefits of spiders choosing ETOH, by using a common spider, Myrmarachne gisti, which has a high probability of contacting ETOH in their habitat. In our experiment, M. gisti showed a significant preference for ETOH. Although the success rate of the first attack was significantly decreased when M. gisti were exposed to ETOH, they had a significantly higher predation probability, since fruit flies also showed a significant preference for ETOH. Our findings suggested that ETOH could affect the prey capture efficiency of M. gisti, and indicated that spiders might evolve to use ETOH to locate a potential hunting place. Taken together, our findings suggested that M. gisti evolved to adapt to ETOH and could use it as a signal of the presence of food resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guocheng Yu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, College of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering and Centre for Behavioural Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Zichang Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, College of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering and Centre for Behavioural Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Yao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering and Centre for Behavioural Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, College of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Yu Peng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, College of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
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Dvořáček J, Kodrík D. Drug effect and addiction research with insects - From Drosophila to collective reward in honeybees. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 140:104816. [PMID: 35940307 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Animals and humans share similar reactions to the effects of addictive substances, including those of their brain networks to drugs. Our review focuses on simple invertebrate models, particularly the honeybee (Apis mellifera), and on the effects of drugs on bee behaviour and brain functions. The drug effects in bees are very similar to those described in humans. Furthermore, the honeybee community is a superorganism in which many collective functions outperform the simple sum of individual functions. The distribution of reward functions in this superorganism is unique - although sublimated at the individual level, community reward functions are of higher quality. This phenomenon of collective reward may be extrapolated to other animal species living in close and strictly organised societies, i.e. humans. The relationship between sociality and reward, based on use of similar parts of the neural network (social decision-making network in mammals, mushroom body in bees), suggests a functional continuum of reward and sociality in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Dvořáček
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budĕjovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budĕjovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Dalibor Kodrík
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budĕjovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budĕjovice, Czech Republic
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7
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Jones P, Agrawal AA. Caffeine and ethanol in nectar interact with flower color impacting bumblebee behavior. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03208-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Rasmussen EMK, Seier KL, Pedersen IK, Kreibich C, Amdam GV, Münch D, Dahl JA. Screening bioactive food compounds in honey bees suggests curcumin blocks alcohol-induced damage to longevity and DNA methylation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19156. [PMID: 34580381 PMCID: PMC8476562 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98614-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Various bioactive food compounds may confer health and longevity benefits, possibly through altering or preserving the epigenome. While bioactive food compounds are widely being marketed for human consumption as 'improving health and longevity' by counteracting harmful effects of poor nutrition and lifestyle, claimed effects are often not adequately documented. Using the honey bee (Apis mellifera) as a model species, we here employed a multi-step screening approach to investigate seven compounds for effects on lifespan and DNA methylation using ELISA and whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS). A positive longevity effect was detected for valproic acid, isovaleric acid, and cyanocobalamin. For curcumin, we found that lifespan shortening caused by ethanol intake, was restored when curcumin and ethanol were co-administered. Furthermore, we identified region specific DNA methylation changes as a result of ethanol intake. Ethanol specific changes in DNA methylation were fully or partially blocked in honey bees receiving ethanol and curcumin together. Ethanol-affected and curcumin-blocked differentially methylated regions covered genes involved in fertility, temperature regulation and tubulin transport. Our results demonstrate fundamental negative effects of low dose ethanol consumption on lifespan and associated DNA methylation changes and present a proof-of-principle on how longevity and DNA methylation changes can be negated by the bioactive food component curcumin. Our findings provide a fundament for further studies of curcumin in invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik M K Rasmussen
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Aas, Norway.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Aas, Norway.
| | - Kristine L Seier
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Aas, Norway
- Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, 3004, Drammen, Norway
| | - Ingrid K Pedersen
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Aas, Norway
- Institute for Energy Technology, 2007, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Claus Kreibich
- Faculty of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Aas, Norway
| | - Gro V Amdam
- Faculty of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Aas, Norway
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Daniel Münch
- Faculty of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Aas, Norway.
- Animalia - Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Centre, 0513, Oslo, Norway.
| | - John Arne Dahl
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0027, Oslo, Norway.
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Ostap-Chec M, Opalek M, Stec D, Miler K. Discontinued alcohol consumption elicits withdrawal symptoms in honeybees. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210182. [PMID: 34129796 PMCID: PMC8205535 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The honeybee continues to be developed as a model species in many research areas, including studies related to the effects of alcohol. Here, we investigate whether workers display one of the key features of alcoholism, namely withdrawal symptoms. We show that workers fed for a prolonged time on food spiked with ethanol, after discontinuation of access to such food, exhibited a marked increase in the consumption of ethanol and a slight increase in mortality. We additionally show that withdrawal symptoms do not include an increase in appetitiveness of ethanol diluted in water. Our results demonstrate that workers can develop alcohol dependence, which might be especially important in the natural setting of repeated exposure to ethanol in floral nectar and for their potential as a model of alcohol addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Ostap-Chec
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Monika Opalek
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Daniel Stec
- Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Miler
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016 Kraków, Poland
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Miler K, Opalek M, Ostap‐Chec M, Stec D. Diel rhythmicity of alcohol‐induced intoxication in the honeybee workers. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. Miler
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals Polish Academy of Sciences Kraków Poland
| | - M. Opalek
- Institute of Environmental Sciences Faculty of Biology Jagiellonian University Kraków Poland
| | - M. Ostap‐Chec
- Institute of Environmental Sciences Faculty of Biology Jagiellonian University Kraków Poland
| | - D. Stec
- Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research Faculty of Biology Jagiellonian University Kraków Poland
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Van Damme S, De Fruyt N, Watteyne J, Kenis S, Peymen K, Schoofs L, Beets I. Neuromodulatory pathways in learning and memory: Lessons from invertebrates. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e12911. [PMID: 33350018 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In an ever-changing environment, animals have to continuously adapt their behaviour. The ability to learn from experience is crucial for animals to increase their chances of survival. It is therefore not surprising that learning and memory evolved early in evolution and are mediated by conserved molecular mechanisms. A broad range of neuromodulators, in particular monoamines and neuropeptides, have been found to influence learning and memory, although our knowledge on their modulatory functions in learning circuits remains fragmentary. Many neuromodulatory systems are evolutionarily ancient and well-conserved between vertebrates and invertebrates. Here, we highlight general principles and mechanistic insights concerning the actions of monoamines and neuropeptides in learning circuits that have emerged from invertebrate studies. Diverse neuromodulators have been shown to influence learning and memory in invertebrates, which can have divergent or convergent actions at different spatiotemporal scales. In addition, neuromodulators can regulate learning dependent on internal and external states, such as food and social context. The strong conservation of neuromodulatory systems, the extensive toolkit and the compact learning circuits in invertebrate models make these powerful systems to further deepen our understanding of neuromodulatory pathways involved in learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Van Damme
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nathan De Fruyt
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Watteyne
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Signe Kenis
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katleen Peymen
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Isabel Beets
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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12
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Rossini C, Rodrigo F, Davyt B, Umpiérrez ML, González A, Garrido PM, Cuniolo A, Porrini LP, Eguaras MJ, Porrini MP. Sub-lethal effects of the consumption of Eupatorium buniifolium essential oil in honeybees. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241666. [PMID: 33147299 PMCID: PMC7641371 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
When developing new products to be used in honeybee colonies, further than acute toxicity, it is imperative to perform an assessment of risks, including various sublethal effects. The long-term sublethal effects of xenobiotics on honeybees, more specifically of acaricides used in honeybee hives, have been scarcely studied, particularly so in the case of essential oils and their components. In this work, chronic effects of the ingestion of Eupatorium buniifolium (Asteraceae) essential oil were studied on nurse honeybees using laboratory assays. Survival, food consumption, and the effect on the composition of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) were assessed. CHC were chosen due to their key role as pheromones involved in honeybee social recognition. While food consumption and survival were not affected by the consumption of the essential oil, CHC amounts and profiles showed dose-dependent changes. All groups of CHC (linear and branched alkanes, alkenes and alkadienes) were altered when honeybees were fed with the highest essential oil dose tested (6000 ppm). The compounds that significantly varied include n-docosane, n-tricosane, n-tetracosane, n-triacontane, n-tritriacontane, 9-tricosene, 7-pentacosene, 9-pentacosene, 9-heptacosene, tritriacontene, pentacosadiene, hentriacontadiene, tritriacontadiene and all methyl alkanes. All of them but pentacosadiene were up-regulated. On the other hand, CHC profiles were similar in healthy and Nosema-infected honeybees when diets included the essential oil at 300 and 3000 ppm. Our results show that the ingestion of an essential oil can impact CHC and that the effect is dose-dependent. Changes in CHC could affect the signaling process mediated by these pheromonal compounds. To our knowledge this is the first report of changes in honeybee cuticular hydrocarbons as a result of essential oil ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Rossini
- Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República de Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
- * E-mail:
| | - Federico Rodrigo
- Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República de Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Belén Davyt
- Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República de Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Laura Umpiérrez
- Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República de Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés González
- Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República de Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Paula Melisa Garrido
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonella Cuniolo
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leonardo P. Porrini
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín Javier Eguaras
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín P. Porrini
- Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República de Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Varnon CA, Dinges CW, Vest AJ, Abramson CI. Conspecific and interspecific stimuli reduce initial performance in an aversive learning task in honey bees (Apis mellifera). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228161. [PMID: 32097420 PMCID: PMC7041878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this experiment was to investigate whether honey bees (Apis mellifera) are able to use social discriminative stimuli in a spatial aversive conditioning paradigm. We tested bees' ability to avoid shock in a shuttle box apparatus across multiple groups when either shock, or the absence of shock, was associated with a live hive mate, a dead hive mate, a live Polistes exclamans wasp or a dead wasp. Additionally, we used several control groups common to bee shuttle box research where shock was only associated with spatial cues, or where shock was associated with a blue or yellow color. While bees were able to learn the aversive task in a simple spatial discrimination, the presence of any other stimuli (color, another bee, or a wasp) reduced initial performance. While the color biases we discovered are in line with other experiments, the finding that the presence of another animal reduces performance is novel. Generally, it appears that the use of bees or wasps as stimuli initially causes an increase in overall activity that interferes with early performance in the spatial task. During the course of the experiment, the bees habituate to the insect stimuli (bee or wasp), and begin learning the aversive task. Additionally, we found that experimental subject bees did not discriminate between bees or wasps used as stimulus animals, nor did they discriminate between live or dead stimulus animals. This may occur, in part, due to the specialized nature of the worker honey bee. Results are discussed with implications for continual research on honey bees as models of aversive learning, as well as research on insect social learning in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A. Varnon
- Laboratory of Comparative Psychology and Behavioral Ecology, Department of Psychology, Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Christopher W. Dinges
- Laboratory of Comparative Psychology and Behavioral Biology, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Adam J. Vest
- Laboratory of Comparative Psychology and Behavioral Biology, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Charles I. Abramson
- Laboratory of Comparative Psychology and Behavioral Biology, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
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Amaya-Márquez M, Tusso S, Hernández J, Jiménez JD, Wells H, I. Abramson C. Olfactory Learning in the Stingless Bee Melipona eburnea Friese (Apidae: Meliponini). INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10110412. [PMID: 31752087 PMCID: PMC6920981 DOI: 10.3390/insects10110412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Olfactory learning and floral scents are co-adaptive traits in the plant–pollinator relationship. However, how scent relates to cognition and learning in the diverse group of Neotropical stingless bees is largely unknown. Here we evaluated the ability of Melipona eburnea to be conditioned to scent using the proboscis extension reflex (PER) protocol. Stingless bees did not show PER while harnessed but were able to be PER conditioned to scent when free-to-move in a mini-cage (fmPER). We evaluated the effect of: 1) unconditioned stimulus (US) reward, and 2) previous scent–reward associations on olfactory learning performance. When using unscented-US, PER-responses were low on day 1, but using scented-US reward the olfactory PER-response increased on day 1. On day 2 PER performance greatly increased in bees that previously had experienced the same odor and reward combination, while bees that experienced a different odor on day 2 showed poor olfactory learning. Bees showed higher olfactory PER conditioning to guava than to mango odor. The effect of the unconditioned stimulus reward was not a significant factor in the model on day 2. This indicates that olfactory learning performance can increase via either taste receptors or accumulated experience with the same odor. Our results have application in agriculture and pollination ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisol Amaya-Márquez
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (J.H.); (J.D.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +57-1-3165000 (ext. 11503/11546)
| | - Sergio Tusso
- Science for Life Laboratories and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala University, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden;
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, 82152 Grosshaderner Str. Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Juan Hernández
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (J.H.); (J.D.J.)
| | - Juan Darío Jiménez
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (J.H.); (J.D.J.)
| | | | - Charles I. Abramson
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA;
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Mustard JA, Akyol E, Robles KD, Ozturk C, Kaftanoglu O. Influence of sugar experience during development on gustatory sensitivity of the honey bee. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 116:100-105. [PMID: 31059690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The level of response to sugar plays a role in many aspects of honey bee behavior including age dependent polyethism and division of labor. Bees may tune their sensitivity to sugars so that they maximize collection of high quality nectar, but they must also be able to collect from less profitable sources when high quality food is scarce. However, our understanding of the mechanisms by which bees can change their responsiveness to different sugars remains incomplete. To investigate the plasticity of sensitivity to sugar, bees were raised on different sugars either in vitro or in colonies. Bees raised in the incubator on diets containing mostly either fructose or glucose showed significantly more responsiveness to the majority sugar. In contrast, bees raised in colonies that only foraged on fructose or glucose responded equally well to both sugars. These data suggest that developmental plasticity for responses to sugar is masked by the feeding of worker jelly to larvae and young bees. The production of worker jelly from secretions of the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands by nurse bees ensures that both glucose and fructose are experienced by young bees so that they respond to both sugars and will be able to exploit all future food sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Mustard
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, United States.
| | - Ethem Akyol
- Department of Animal Sciences and Technology, Nigde Ömer Halisdemir University, Nigde, Turkey
| | - Karin D Robles
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, United States
| | - Cahit Ozturk
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States
| | - Osman Kaftanoglu
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States
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16
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Madden AA, Epps MJ, Fukami T, Irwin RE, Sheppard J, Sorger DM, Dunn RR. The ecology of insect-yeast relationships and its relevance to human industry. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2017.2733. [PMID: 29563264 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Many species of yeast are integral to human society. They produce many of our foods, beverages and industrial chemicals, challenge us as pathogens, and provide models for the study of our own biology. However, few species are regularly studied and much of their ecology remains unclear, hindering the development of knowledge that is needed to improve the relationships between humans and yeasts. There is increasing evidence that insects are an essential component of ascomycetous yeast ecology. We propose a 'dispersal-encounter hypothesis' whereby yeasts are dispersed by insects between ephemeral, spatially disparate sugar resources, and insects, in turn, obtain the benefits of an honest signal from yeasts for the sugar resources. We review the relationship between yeasts and insects through three main examples: social wasps, social bees and beetles, with some additional examples from fruit flies. Ultimately, we suggest that over the next decades, consideration of these ecological and evolutionary relationships between insects and yeasts will allow prediction of where new yeast diversity is most likely to be discovered, particularly yeasts with traits of interest to human industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne A Madden
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, David Clark Labs, 100 Brooks Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Mary Jane Epps
- Department of Biology, Mary Baldwin University, 101 East Frederick Street, Staunton, VA 24401, USA
| | - Tadashi Fukami
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, 371 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Rebecca E Irwin
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, David Clark Labs, 100 Brooks Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - John Sheppard
- Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, 400 Dan Allen Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - D Magdalena Sorger
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, David Clark Labs, 100 Brooks Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.,Research & Collections, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA
| | - Robert R Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, David Clark Labs, 100 Brooks Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.,Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany
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Mustard JA, Oquita R, Garza P, Stoker A. Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Show a Preference for the Consumption of Ethanol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 43:26-35. [PMID: 30347437 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are significant global issues. Honey bees are excellent models for learning and other complex behaviors; furthermore, they share many behavioral responses to ethanol (EtOH) with humans and animal models. We develop a 2-feeder choice assay to determine whether honey bees will self-administer and preferentially consume solutions containing EtOH. METHODS Gustatory responsiveness to EtOH is determined using the proboscis extension reflex and consumption assays. A 2-feeder choice assay is used to examine preference for the consumption of EtOH. Survival assays assess the metabolic and toxic effects of EtOH consumption. RESULTS Honey bees find the taste of EtOH to be aversive when in water, but addition of sucrose masks the aversive taste. Even though the taste of EtOH is not appetitive, honey bees preferentially consume sucrose solutions containing 1.25 to 2.5% EtOH in a dose-dependent manner. Based on survival assays, honey bees may not be able to derive caloric value from EtOH, and EtOH concentrations of 2.5% or higher lead to significant increases in mortality. CONCLUSIONS Honey bees will self-administer EtOH and show a preference for consuming solutions containing EtOH. Bees may not be able to efficiently utilize EtOH as an energy source, but EtOH-dependent increases in mortality complicate separating the effects of caloric value and toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Mustard
- Biology Department, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas
| | - Ramiro Oquita
- Biology Department, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas
| | - Paulina Garza
- Biology Department, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas
| | - Alexander Stoker
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
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Abstract
The honeybee is being developed as a simple invertebrate model for alcohol-related studies. To date, several effects of ethanol consumption have been demonstrated in honeybees, but the tolerance effect, one of the hallmarks of alcohol overuse, has never been shown. Here, we confirm our hypothesis that the response to ethanol (in terms of motor impairment) is lower in bees that have previously experienced intoxication than in bees encountering ethanol for the first time, indicating that the chronic tolerance effect occurs in honeybees. Furthermore, we investigated the basis of this effect and found that it likely results from conditioned compensatory responses to cues associated with ethanol delivery. Our findings significantly improve our understanding of the suitability of honeybees as models for alcoholism-related research and underline the first and foremost function of all conditioned reactions – their adaptive value.
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Varnon CA, Dinges CW, Black TE, Wells H, Abramson CI. Failure to Find Ethanol-Induced Conditioned Taste Aversion in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.). Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:1260-1270. [PMID: 29687910 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) learning is a highly specialized form of conditioning found across taxa that leads to avoidance of an initially neutral stimulus, such as taste or odor, that is associated with, but is not the cause of, a detrimental health condition. This study examines if honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) develop ethanol (EtOH)-induced CTA. METHODS Restrained bees were first administered a sucrose solution that was cinnamon scented, lavender scented, or unscented, and contained either 0, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20% EtOH. Then, 30 minutes later, we used a proboscis extension response (PER) conditioning procedure where the bees were taught to associate either cinnamon odor, lavender odor, or an air-puff with repeated sucrose feedings. For some bees, the odor of the previously consumed EtOH solution was the same as the odor associated with sucrose in the conditioning procedure. If bees are able to learn EtOH-induced CTA, they should show an immediate low level of response to odors previously associated with EtOH. RESULTS We found that bees did not develop CTA despite the substantial inhibitory and aversive effects EtOH has on behavior. Instead, bees receiving a conditioning odor that was previously associated with EtOH showed an immediate high level of response. While this demonstrates bees are capable of one-trial learning common to CTA experiments, this high level of response is the opposite of what would occur if the bees developed a CTA. Responding on subsequent trials also showed a general inhibitory effect of EtOH. Finally, we found that consumption of cinnamon extract reduced the effects of EtOH. CONCLUSIONS The honey bees' lack of learned avoidance to EtOH mirrors that seen in human alcoholism. These findings demonstrate the usefulness of honey bees as an insect model for EtOH consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Timothy E Black
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
| | - Harrington Wells
- Department of Biological Science, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma
| | - Charles I Abramson
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
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Mustard JA, Alvarez V, Barocio S, Mathews J, Stoker A, Malik K. Nutritional value and taste play different roles in learning and memory in the honey bee (Apis mellifera). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 107:250-256. [PMID: 29729260 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees will learn to respond to an odor when their antennae are stimulated with sucrose, even if they are not fed during the conditioning phase. However, if they are not fed, the memory of this association is significantly reduced 24 h after conditioning. These results suggest that stimulation of proboscis with sucrose and/or the nutritional quality of the reward plays an important role in establishing a long lasting memory. Three sugars, xylose, sorbitol and mannitol, are used to investigate the relationship among learning, sensory perception and nutritional value. The proboscis extension reflex is used to show that honey bees cannot taste these sugars, whereas mortality data suggest that bees can metabolize all three sugars. Feeding with sorbitol or xylose during olfactory associative conditioning restores robust 24 h memories. However, when given a free choice between consuming sucrose alone or sucrose supplemented with these nutritional sugars, bees did not show a preference for food containing the higher nutritional content. Furthermore, bees did not ingest solutions containing only the tasteless sugar even when it was the only food source. Together, these results suggest that nutritional content and not just sensory information is important for establishing long term memories, but that bees may not be able to assess nutritional content when it is disassociated from taste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Mustard
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, United States.
| | - Valerie Alvarez
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, United States
| | - Sofy Barocio
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, United States
| | - Jamie Mathews
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, United States
| | - Alexander Stoker
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States
| | - Kashif Malik
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States
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21
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Garrido PM, Porrini MP, Antúnez K, Branchiccela B, Martínez-Noël GMA, Zunino P, Salerno G, Eguaras MJ, Ieno E. Sublethal effects of acaricides and Nosema ceranae infection on immune related gene expression in honeybees. Vet Res 2016; 47:51. [PMID: 27118545 PMCID: PMC4847213 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-016-0335-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is an obligate intracellular parasite and the etiologic agent of Nosemosis that affects honeybees. Beside the stress caused by this pathogen, honeybee colonies are exposed to pesticides under beekeeper intervention, such as acaricides to control Varroa mites. These compounds can accumulate at high concentrations in apicultural matrices. In this work, the effects of parasitosis/acaricide on genes involved in honeybee immunity and survival were evaluated. Nurse bees were infected with N. ceranae and/or were chronically treated with sublethal doses of coumaphos or tau-fluvalinate, the two most abundant pesticides recorded in productive hives. Our results demonstrate the following: (1) honeybee survival was not affected by any of the treatments; (2) parasite development was not altered by acaricide treatments; (3) coumaphos exposure decreased lysozyme expression; (4) N. ceranae reduced levels of vitellogenin transcripts independently of the presence of acaricides. However, combined effects among stressors on imagoes were not recorded. Sublethal doses of acaricides and their interaction with other ubiquitous parasites in colonies, extending the experimental time, are of particular interest in further research work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Melisa Garrido
- />Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata–CONICET, Mar Del Plata, Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Martín Pablo Porrini
- />Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata–CONICET, Mar Del Plata, Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Karina Antúnez
- />Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Belén Branchiccela
- />Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Pablo Zunino
- />Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Graciela Salerno
- />Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología (INBIOTEC-CONICET), CIB-FIBA, Mar Del Plata, Argentina
| | - Martín Javier Eguaras
- />Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata–CONICET, Mar Del Plata, Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Elena Ieno
- />Highland Statistics, 03130 Alicante, Spain
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The effect of ethanol on reversal learning in honey bees (Apis mellifera anatolica): Response inhibition in a social insect model. Alcohol 2015; 49:245-58. [PMID: 25837483 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2015.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Revised: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of ethanol on reversal learning in honey bees (Apis mellifera anatolica). The rationale behind the present experiment was to determine the species generality of the effect of ethanol on response inhibition. Subjects were originally trained to associate either a cinnamon or lavender odor with a sucrose feeding before a reversal of the conditioned stimuli. We administered 15 μL of ethanol at varying doses (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, or 20%) according to group assignment. Ethanol was either administered 5 min before original discrimination training or 5 min before the stimuli reversal. We analyzed the effects of these three manipulations via a recently developed individual analysis that eschews aggregate assessments in favor of a model that conceptualizes learning as occurring in individual organisms. We measured responding in the presence of conditioned stimuli associated with a sucrose feeding, responding in the presence of conditioned stimuli associated with distilled water, and responding in the presence of the unconditioned stimulus (sucrose). Our analyses revealed the ethanol dose manipulation lowered responding for all three measures at increasingly higher doses, which suggests ethanol served as a general behavioral suppressor. Consistent with previous ethanol reversal literature, we found administering ethanol before the original discrimination phase or before the reversal produced inconsistent patterns of responding at varying ethanol doses.
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Hassanpour-Ezatti M. Comparison of acute effects of heroin and Kerack on sensory and motor activity of honey bees (Apis mellifera). IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2015; 18:364-9. [PMID: 26019799 PMCID: PMC4439451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous studies demonstrated a functional similarity between vertebrate and honey bee nervous systems. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of heroin and Iranian street Kerack, a combination of heroin and caffeine, on sensory threshold and locomotor activity in honey bees. MATERIALS AND METHODS All drugs were given orally to honey bees 30 min before each experiment. The levels of these drugs and their metabolites in brain samples of honey bees were determined by GC/MS. The sucrose sensitivity test was used for evaluation of changes in honey bees' sensory threshold. Following the administration of both drugs, the honey bees' locomotor activity changes were evaluated in open fields. RESULTS 6-acetylmorphine had a higher concentration in comparison with other heroin metabolites in honey bees' brains. Concentration of the compound in the brain was directly proportional to the amount ingested. Heroin reduced the sensory threshold of honey bees, but Kerack increased it in the same doses. Locomotor activity of honey bee in open field was enhanced after the administration of both drugs. However, immobility time of honey bees was only affected by high doses of heroin. CONCLUSION Acute effects of heroin andKerack on the sensory and motor functions of honey bees were different. Findings of this research suggest that these differences originated from the activation of different neurotransmitter systems by caffeine together with activation of opioid receptors by heroin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Hassanpour-Ezatti
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran,*Corresponding author: Majid Hassanpour-Ezatti. Shahed University, Opposite Holy Shrine of Imam Khomaeini, Kalij Fars Expressway, Tehran, Iran. Tel: +98-21-51212242; ;
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Hladun KR, Kaftanoglu O, Parker DR, Tran KD, Trumble JT. Effects of selenium on development, survival, and accumulation in the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2013; 32:2584-2592. [PMID: 24115124 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Revised: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is an important agricultural pollinator in the United States and throughout the world. In areas of selenium (Se) contamination, honeybees may be at risk because of the biotransfer of Se from plant products such as nectar and pollen. Several forms of Se can occur in accumulating plants. In the present study, the toxicity of 4 compounds (selenate, selenite, methylselenocysteine, and selenocystine) to honeybee adult foragers and larvae was assessed using dose-response bioassays. Inorganic forms were more toxic than organic forms for both larvae (lethal concentration [LC50] selenate = 0.72 mg L(-1) , LC50 selenite = 1.0 mg L(-1) , LC50 methylselenocysteine = 4.7 mg L(-1) , LC50 selenocystine = 4.4 mg L(-1) ) and foragers (LC50 selenate = 58 mg L(-1) , LC50 selenite = 58 mg L(-1) , LC50 methylselenocysteine = 161 mg L(-1) , LC50 selenocystine = 148 mg L(-1) ). Inorganic forms of Se caused rapid mortality, and organic forms had sublethal effects on development. Larvae accumulated substantial amounts of Se only at the highest doses, whereas foragers accumulated large quantities at all doses. The present study documented very low larval LC50 values for Se; even modest transfer to brood will likely cause increased development times and mortality. The toxicities of the various forms of Se to honeybee larvae and foragers are discussed in comparison with other insect herbivores and detritivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen R Hladun
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
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Geddes LH, McQuillan HJ, Aiken A, Vergoz V, Mercer AR. Steroid hormone (20-hydroxyecdysone) modulates the acquisition of aversive olfactory memories in pollen forager honeybees. Learn Mem 2013; 20:399-409. [DOI: 10.1101/lm.030825.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Abstract
Increasingly invertebrates are being used to investigate the molecular and cellular effects of drugs of abuse to explore basic mechanisms of addiction. However, in mammals the principle factors contributing to addiction are long-term adaptive responses to repeated drug use. Here we examined whether adaptive responses to cocaine are also seen in invertebrates using the honey bee model system. Repeated topical treatment with a low dose of cocaine rendered bees resistant to the deleterious motor effects of a higher cocaine dose, indicating the development of physiological tolerance to cocaine in bees. Cocaine inhibits biogenic amine reuptake transporters, but neither acute nor repeated cocaine treatments caused measurable changes in levels of biogenic amines measured in whole bee brains. Our data show clear short and long-term behavioural responses of bees to cocaine administration, but caution that, despite the small size of the bee brain, measures of biogenic amines conducted at the whole-brain level may not reveal neurochemical effects of the drug.
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27
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Frost EH, Shutler D, Hillier NK. The proboscis extension reflex to evaluate learning and memory in honeybees (Apis mellifera): some caveats. Naturwissenschaften 2012; 99:677-86. [PMID: 22869163 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-012-0955-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2012] [Revised: 07/18/2012] [Accepted: 07/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The proboscis extension reflex (PER) is widely used in a classical conditioning (Pavlovian) context to evaluate learning and memory of a variety of insect species. The literature is particularly prodigious for honeybees (Apis mellifera) with more than a thousand publications. Imagination appears to be the only limit to the types of challenges to which researchers subject honeybees, including all the sensory modalities and a broad diversity of environmental treatments. Accordingly, some remarkable insights have been achieved using PER. However, there are several challenges to evaluating the PER literature that warrant a careful and thorough review. We assess here variation in methods that makes interpretation of studies, even those researching the same question, tenuous. We suggest that the numerous variables that might influence experimental outcomes from PER be thoroughly detailed by researchers. Moreover, the influence of individual variables on results needs to carefully evaluated, as well as among two or more variables. Our intent is to encourage investigation of the influence of numerous variables on PER results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth H Frost
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada
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28
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Robinson BG, Khurana S, Pohl JB, Li WK, Ghezzi A, Cady AM, Najjar K, Hatch MM, Shah RR, Bhat A, Hariri O, Haroun KB, Young MC, Fife K, Hooten J, Tran T, Goan D, Desai F, Husain F, Godinez RM, Sun JC, Corpuz J, Moran J, Zhong AC, Chen WY, Atkinson NS. A low concentration of ethanol impairs learning but not motor and sensory behavior in Drosophila larvae. PLoS One 2012; 7:e37394. [PMID: 22624024 PMCID: PMC3356251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2011] [Accepted: 04/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster has proven to be a useful model system for the genetic analysis of ethanol-associated behaviors. However, past studies have focused on the response of the adult fly to large, and often sedating, doses of ethanol. The pharmacological effects of low and moderate quantities of ethanol have remained understudied. In this study, we tested the acute effects of low doses of ethanol (∼7 mM internal concentration) on Drosophila larvae. While ethanol did not affect locomotion or the response to an odorant, we observed that ethanol impaired associative olfactory learning when the heat shock unconditioned stimulus (US) intensity was low but not when the heat shock US intensity was high. We determined that the reduction in learning at low US intensity was not a result of ethanol anesthesia since ethanol-treated larvae responded to the heat shock in the same manner as untreated animals. Instead, low doses of ethanol likely impair the neuronal plasticity that underlies olfactory associative learning. This impairment in learning was reversible indicating that exposure to low doses of ethanol does not leave any long lasting behavioral or physiological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooks G. Robinson
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sukant Khurana
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jascha B. Pohl
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Wen-ke Li
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Alfredo Ghezzi
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Amanda M. Cady
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kristina Najjar
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Michael M. Hatch
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ruchita R. Shah
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Amar Bhat
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Omar Hariri
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kareem B. Haroun
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Melvin C. Young
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kathryn Fife
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jeff Hooten
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tuan Tran
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Daniel Goan
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Foram Desai
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Farhan Husain
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ryan M. Godinez
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey C. Sun
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Corpuz
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jacxelyn Moran
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Allen C. Zhong
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - William Y. Chen
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nigel S. Atkinson
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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29
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Hladun KR, Smith BH, Mustard JA, Morton RR, Trumble JT. Selenium toxicity to honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) pollinators: effects on behaviors and survival. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34137. [PMID: 22514621 PMCID: PMC3325990 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2011] [Accepted: 02/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We know very little about how soil-borne pollutants such as selenium (Se) can impact pollinators, even though Se has contaminated soils and plants in areas where insect pollination can be critical to the functioning of both agricultural and natural ecosystems. Se can be biotransferred throughout the food web, but few studies have examined its effects on the insects that feed on Se-accumulating plants, particularly pollinators. In laboratory bioassays, we used proboscis extension reflex (PER) and taste perception to determine if the presence of Se affected the gustatory response of honey bee (Apis mellifera L., Hymenoptera: Apidae) foragers. Antennae and proboscises were stimulated with both organic (selenomethionine) and inorganic (selenate) forms of Se that commonly occur in Se-accumulating plants. Methionine was also tested. Each compound was dissolved in 1 M sucrose at 5 concentrations, with sucrose alone as a control. Antennal stimulation with selenomethionine and methionine reduced PER at higher concentrations. Selenate did not reduce gustatory behaviors. Two hours after being fed the treatments, bees were tested for sucrose response threshold. Bees fed selenate responded less to sucrose stimulation. Mortality was higher in bees chronically dosed with selenate compared with a single dose. Selenomethionine did not increase mortality except at the highest concentration. Methionine did not significantly impact survival. Our study has shown that bees fed selenate were less responsive to sucrose, which may lead to a reduction in incoming floral resources needed to support coworkers and larvae in the field. If honey bees forage on nectar containing Se (particularly selenate), reductions in population numbers may occur due to direct toxicity. Given that honey bees are willing to consume food resources containing Se and may not avoid Se compounds in the plant tissues on which they are foraging, they may suffer similar adverse effects as seen in other insect guilds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen R Hladun
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America.
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Mustard JA, Dews L, Brugato A, Dey K, Wright GA. Consumption of an acute dose of caffeine reduces acquisition but not memory in the honey bee. Behav Brain Res 2012; 232:217-24. [PMID: 22521838 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2011] [Revised: 03/28/2012] [Accepted: 04/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Caffeine affects several molecules that are also involved in the processes underlying learning and memory such as cAMP and calcium. However, studies of caffeine's influence on learning and memory in mammals are often contradictory. Invertebrate model systems have provided valuable insight into the actions of many neuroactive compounds including ethanol and cocaine. We use the honey bee (Apis mellifera) to investigate how the ingestion of acute doses of caffeine before, during, and after conditioning influences performance in an appetitive olfactory learning and memory task. Consumption of caffeine doses of 0.01 M or greater during or prior to conditioning causes a significant reduction in response levels during acquisition. Although bees find the taste of caffeine to be aversive at high concentrations, the bitter taste does not explain the reduction in acquisition observed for bees fed caffeine before conditioning. While high doses of caffeine reduced performance during acquisition, the response levels of bees given caffeine were the same as those of the sucrose only control group in a recall test 24h after conditioning. In addition, caffeine administered after conditioning had no affect on recall. These results suggest that caffeine specifically affects performance during acquisition and not the processes involved in the formation of early long term memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Mustard
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.
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31
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Wright GA, Lillvis JL, Bray HJ, Mustard JA. Physiological state influences the social interactions of two honeybee nest mates. PLoS One 2012; 7:e32677. [PMID: 22427864 PMCID: PMC3302875 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2011] [Accepted: 02/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiological state profoundly influences the expression of the behaviour of individuals and can affect social interactions between animals. How physiological state influences food sharing and social behaviour in social insects is poorly understood. Here, we examined the social interactions and food sharing behaviour of honeybees with the aim of developing the honeybee as a model for understanding how an individual's state influences its social interactions. The state of individual honeybees was manipulated by either starving donor bees or feeding them sucrose or low doses of ethanol to examine how a change in hunger or inebriation state affected the social behaviours exhibited by two closely-related nestmates. Using a lab-based assay for measuring individual motor behaviour and social behaviour, we found that behaviours such as antennation, willingness to engage in trophallaxis, and mandible opening were affected by both hunger and ethanol intoxication. Inebriated bees were more likely to exhibit mandible opening, which may represent a form of aggression, than bees fed sucrose alone. However, intoxicated bees were as willing to engage in trophallaxis as the sucrose-fed bees. The effects of ethanol on social behaviors were dose-dependent, with higher doses of ethanol producing larger effects on behaviour. Hungry donor bees, on the other hand, were more likely to engage in begging for food and less likely to antennate and to display mandible opening. We also found that when nestmates received food from donors previously fed ethanol, they began to display evidence of inebriation, indicating that ethanol can be retained in the crop for several hours and that it can be transferred between honeybee nestmates during trophallaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldine A Wright
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
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32
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Wang Y, Tang L, Feng X, Du W, Liu BF. Ethanol interferes with gustatory plasticity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurosci Res 2011; 71:341-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2011.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2011] [Revised: 07/25/2011] [Accepted: 08/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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33
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Allen JM, Van Kummer BH, Cohen RW. Dopamine as an anorectic neuromodulator in the cockroach Rhyparobia maderae. J Exp Biol 2011; 214:3843-9. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.062430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY
Insects, including cockroaches, self-select a balanced diet when faced with different nutrient choices. For self-selection to be carried out effectively, insects possess neuroregulatory systems to control their food intake. In the present study, we examined the role of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) in the feeding regulation of the Madeira cockroach (Rhyparobia maderae). When R. maderae nymphs were injected with 20 μl of 100 mmol l–1 DA, they showed an 83.3% reduction in sucrose intake and a 78.9% reduction in total intake compared with saline-injected controls. The DA agonist, 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (6,7-ADTN) (100 mmol l–1 in 1 μl), caused a significant reduction in sucrose feeding, reducing feeding by 47.3% compared with saline-injected controls. Protein feeding was also significantly reduced by 6,7-ADTN to 62%. Rhyparobia maderae nymphs injected with the DA antagonist chlorpromazine (100 mmol l–1 in 1 μl) did not differ significantly from control nymphs in their feeding behavior. Interestingly, R. maderae nymphs injected with 2 μl or 5 μl chlorpromazine (100 mmol l–1) showed significantly increased mortality rates of 47.5% or 66.7%, respectively. The DA antagonist, spiperone (100 mmol l–1 in 1 μl), caused a significant feeding response, showing an increase in feeding in both sucrose (310.6%) and total intake (236.3%). Casein feeding in R. maderae nymphs was also elevated (70.8%) but this was not statistically significant. The experiments with DA, the DA agonist 6,7-ADTN and the DA antagonist spiperone strongly suggest that the neurotransmitter DA is involved in regulating feeding in the cockroach R. maderae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn M. Allen
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8303, USA
| | - Brooke H. Van Kummer
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8303, USA
| | - Randy W. Cohen
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8303, USA
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34
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Kong EC, Allouche L, Chapot PA, Vranizan K, Moore MS, Heberlein U, Wolf FW. Ethanol-regulated genes that contribute to ethanol sensitivity and rapid tolerance in Drosophila. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2010; 34:302-16. [PMID: 19951294 PMCID: PMC2903447 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2009.01093.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased ethanol intake, a major predictor for the development of alcohol use disorders, is facilitated by the development of tolerance to both the aversive and pleasurable effects of the drug. The molecular mechanisms underlying ethanol tolerance development are complex and are not yet well understood. METHODS To identify genetic mechanisms that contribute to ethanol tolerance, we examined the time course of gene expression changes elicited by a single sedating dose of ethanol in Drosophila, and completed a behavioral survey of strains harboring mutations in ethanol-regulated genes. RESULTS Enrichment for genes in metabolism, nucleic acid binding, olfaction, regulation of signal transduction, and stress suggests that these biological processes are coordinately affected by ethanol exposure. We also detected a coordinate up-regulation of genes in the Toll and Imd innate immunity signal transduction pathways. A multi-study comparison revealed a small set of genes showing similar regulation, including increased expression of 3 genes for serine biosynthesis. A survey of Drosophila strains harboring mutations in ethanol-regulated genes for ethanol sensitivity and tolerance phenotypes revealed roles for serine biosynthesis, olfaction, transcriptional regulation, immunity, and metabolism. Flies harboring deletions of the genes encoding the olfactory co-receptor Or83b or the sirtuin Sir2 showed marked changes in the development of ethanol tolerance. CONCLUSIONS Our findings implicate novel roles for these genes in regulating ethanol behavioral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Kong
- Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Emeryville, California, USA
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