1
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Suárez-Grimalt R, Grunwald Kadow IC, Scheunemann L. An integrative sensor of body states: how the mushroom body modulates behavior depending on physiological context. Learn Mem 2024; 31:a053918. [PMID: 38876486 PMCID: PMC11199956 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053918.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
The brain constantly compares past and present experiences to predict the future, thereby enabling instantaneous and future behavioral adjustments. Integration of external information with the animal's current internal needs and behavioral state represents a key challenge of the nervous system. Recent advancements in dissecting the function of the Drosophila mushroom body (MB) at the single-cell level have uncovered its three-layered logic and parallel systems conveying positive and negative values during associative learning. This review explores a lesser-known role of the MB in detecting and integrating body states such as hunger, thirst, and sleep, ultimately modulating motivation and sensory-driven decisions based on the physiological state of the fly. State-dependent signals predominantly affect the activity of modulatory MB input neurons (dopaminergic, serotoninergic, and octopaminergic), but also induce plastic changes directly at the level of the MB intrinsic and output neurons. Thus, the MB emerges as a tightly regulated relay station in the insect brain, orchestrating neuroadaptations due to current internal and behavioral states leading to short- but also long-lasting changes in behavior. While these adaptations are crucial to ensure fitness and survival, recent findings also underscore how circuit motifs in the MB may reflect fundamental design principles that contribute to maladaptive behaviors such as addiction or depression-like symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Suárez-Grimalt
- Institute for Biology/Genetics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Neurophysiologie and NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Lisa Scheunemann
- Institute for Biology/Genetics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Neurophysiologie and NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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2
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Chan ICW, Chen N, Hernandez J, Meltzer H, Park A, Stahl A. Future avenues in Drosophila mushroom body research. Learn Mem 2024; 31:a053863. [PMID: 38862172 PMCID: PMC11199946 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053863.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
How does the brain translate sensory information into complex behaviors? With relatively small neuronal numbers, readable behavioral outputs, and an unparalleled genetic toolkit, the Drosophila mushroom body (MB) offers an excellent model to address this question in the context of associative learning and memory. Recent technological breakthroughs, such as the freshly completed full-brain connectome, multiomics approaches, CRISPR-mediated gene editing, and machine learning techniques, led to major advancements in our understanding of the MB circuit at the molecular, structural, physiological, and functional levels. Despite significant progress in individual MB areas, the field still faces the fundamental challenge of resolving how these different levels combine and interact to ultimately control the behavior of an individual fly. In this review, we discuss various aspects of MB research, with a focus on the current knowledge gaps, and an outlook on the future methodological developments required to reach an overall view of the neurobiological basis of learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivy Chi Wai Chan
- Dynamics of Neuronal Circuits Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Developmental Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nannan Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - John Hernandez
- Neuroscience Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA
| | - Hagar Meltzer
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Annie Park
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Stahl
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
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3
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Selcho M. Octopamine in the mushroom body circuitry for learning and memory. Learn Mem 2024; 31:a053839. [PMID: 38862169 PMCID: PMC11199948 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053839.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Octopamine, the functional analog of noradrenaline, modulates many different behaviors and physiological processes in invertebrates. In the central nervous system, a few octopaminergic neurons project throughout the brain and innervate almost all neuropils. The center of memory formation in insects, the mushroom bodies, receive octopaminergic innervations in all insects investigated so far. Different octopamine receptors, either increasing or decreasing cAMP or calcium levels in the cell, are localized in Kenyon cells, further supporting the release of octopamine in the mushroom bodies. In addition, different mushroom body (MB) output neurons, projection neurons, and dopaminergic PAM cells are targets of octopaminergic neurons, enabling the modulation of learning circuits at different neural sites. For some years, the theory persisted that octopamine mediates rewarding stimuli, whereas dopamine (DA) represents aversive stimuli. This simple picture has been challenged by the finding that DA is required for both appetitive and aversive learning. Furthermore, octopamine is also involved in aversive learning and a rather complex interaction between these biogenic amines seems to modulate learning and memory. This review summarizes the role of octopamine in MB function, focusing on the anatomical principles and the role of the biogenic amine in learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Selcho
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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4
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Larnerd C, Kachewar N, Wolf FW. Drosophila learning and memory centers and the actions of drugs of abuse. Learn Mem 2024; 31:a053815. [PMID: 38862166 PMCID: PMC11199947 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053815.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Drug addiction and the circuitry for learning and memory are intimately intertwined. Drugs of abuse create strong, inappropriate, and lasting memories that contribute to many of their destructive properties, such as continued use despite negative consequences and exceptionally high rates of relapse. Studies in Drosophila melanogaster are helping us understand how drugs of abuse, especially alcohol, create memories at the level of individual neurons and in the circuits where they function. Drosophila is a premier organism for identifying the mechanisms of learning and memory. Drosophila also respond to drugs of abuse in ways that remarkably parallel humans and rodent models. An emerging consensus is that, for alcohol, the mushroom bodies participate in the circuits that control acute drug sensitivity, not explicitly associative forms of plasticity such as tolerance, and classical associative memories of their rewarding and aversive properties. Moreover, it is becoming clear that drugs of abuse use the mushroom body circuitry differently from other behaviors, potentially providing a basis for their addictive properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb Larnerd
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Group, University of California, Merced, California 95343, USA
| | - Neha Kachewar
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, California 95343, USA
- Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, California 95343, USA
| | - Fred W Wolf
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Group, University of California, Merced, California 95343, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, California 95343, USA
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5
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Mancini N, Thoener J, Tafani E, Pauls D, Mayseless O, Strauch M, Eichler K, Champion A, Kobler O, Weber D, Sen E, Weiglein A, Hartenstein V, Chytoudis-Peroudis CC, Jovanic T, Thum AS, Rohwedder A, Schleyer M, Gerber B. Rewarding Capacity of Optogenetically Activating a Giant GABAergic Central-Brain Interneuron in Larval Drosophila. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7393-7428. [PMID: 37734947 PMCID: PMC10621887 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2310-22.2023] [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: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Larvae of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster are a powerful study case for understanding the neural circuits underlying behavior. Indeed, the numerical simplicity of the larval brain has permitted the reconstruction of its synaptic connectome, and genetic tools for manipulating single, identified neurons allow neural circuit function to be investigated with relative ease and precision. We focus on one of the most complex neurons in the brain of the larva (of either sex), the GABAergic anterior paired lateral neuron (APL). Using behavioral and connectomic analyses, optogenetics, Ca2+ imaging, and pharmacology, we study how APL affects associative olfactory memory. We first provide a detailed account of the structure, regional polarity, connectivity, and metamorphic development of APL, and further confirm that optogenetic activation of APL has an inhibiting effect on its main targets, the mushroom body Kenyon cells. All these findings are consistent with the previously identified function of APL in the sparsening of sensory representations. To our surprise, however, we found that optogenetically activating APL can also have a strong rewarding effect. Specifically, APL activation together with odor presentation establishes an odor-specific, appetitive, associative short-term memory, whereas naive olfactory behavior remains unaffected. An acute, systemic inhibition of dopamine synthesis as well as an ablation of the dopaminergic pPAM neurons impair reward learning through APL activation. Our findings provide a study case of complex circuit function in a numerically simple brain, and suggest a previously unrecognized capacity of central-brain GABAergic neurons to engage in dopaminergic reinforcement.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The single, identified giant anterior paired lateral (APL) neuron is one of the most complex neurons in the insect brain. It is GABAergic and contributes to the sparsening of neuronal activity in the mushroom body, the memory center of insects. We provide the most detailed account yet of the structure of APL in larval Drosophila as a neurogenetically accessible study case. We further reveal that, contrary to expectations, the experimental activation of APL can exert a rewarding effect, likely via dopaminergic reward pathways. The present study both provides an example of unexpected circuit complexity in a numerically simple brain, and reports an unexpected effect of activity in central-brain GABAergic circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nino Mancini
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department Genetics of Learning and Memory, Magdeburg, 39118, Germany
| | - Juliane Thoener
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department Genetics of Learning and Memory, Magdeburg, 39118, Germany
| | - Esmeralda Tafani
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department Genetics of Learning and Memory, Magdeburg, 39118, Germany
| | - Dennis Pauls
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Oded Mayseless
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Martin Strauch
- Institute of Imaging and Computer Vision, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074, Germany
| | - Katharina Eichler
- Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00901
| | - Andrew Champion
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Cambridge University, Cambridge, CB2 3EL, United Kingdom
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, 20147, Virginia
| | - Oliver Kobler
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Combinatorial Neuroimaging Core Facility, Magdeburg, 39118, Germany
| | - Denise Weber
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Edanur Sen
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department Genetics of Learning and Memory, Magdeburg, 39118, Germany
| | - Aliće Weiglein
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department Genetics of Learning and Memory, Magdeburg, 39118, Germany
| | - Volker Hartenstein
- University of California, Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, Los Angeles, California 90095-1606
| | | | - Tihana Jovanic
- Université Paris-Saclay, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Saclay, 91400, France
| | - Andreas S Thum
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Astrid Rohwedder
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Michael Schleyer
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department Genetics of Learning and Memory, Magdeburg, 39118, Germany
| | - Bertram Gerber
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department Genetics of Learning and Memory, Magdeburg, 39118, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, 39106, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, 39120, Germany
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6
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Jovanoski KD, Duquenoy L, Mitchell J, Kapoor I, Treiber CD, Croset V, Dempsey G, Parepalli S, Cognigni P, Otto N, Felsenberg J, Waddell S. Dopaminergic systems create reward seeking despite adverse consequences. Nature 2023; 623:356-365. [PMID: 37880370 PMCID: PMC10632144 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06671-8] [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: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Resource-seeking behaviours are ordinarily constrained by physiological needs and threats of danger, and the loss of these controls is associated with pathological reward seeking1. Although dysfunction of the dopaminergic valuation system of the brain is known to contribute towards unconstrained reward seeking2,3, the underlying reasons for this behaviour are unclear. Here we describe dopaminergic neural mechanisms that produce reward seeking despite adverse consequences in Drosophila melanogaster. Odours paired with optogenetic activation of a defined subset of reward-encoding dopaminergic neurons become cues that starved flies seek while neglecting food and enduring electric shock punishment. Unconstrained seeking of reward is not observed after learning with sugar or synthetic engagement of other dopaminergic neuron populations. Antagonism between reward-encoding and punishment-encoding dopaminergic neurons accounts for the perseverance of reward seeking despite punishment, whereas synthetic engagement of the reward-encoding dopaminergic neurons also impairs the ordinary need-dependent dopaminergic valuation of available food. Connectome analyses reveal that the population of reward-encoding dopaminergic neurons receives highly heterogeneous input, consistent with parallel representation of diverse rewards, and recordings demonstrate state-specific gating and satiety-related signals. We propose that a similar dopaminergic valuation system dysfunction is likely to contribute to maladaptive seeking of rewards by mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucille Duquenoy
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jessica Mitchell
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ishaan Kapoor
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Vincent Croset
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Georgia Dempsey
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sai Parepalli
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Paola Cognigni
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Nils Otto
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Institute of Anatomy and Molecular Neurobiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Münster, Germany
| | - Johannes Felsenberg
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Scott Waddell
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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7
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Scaplen KM, Kaun KR. Dopamine determines how reward overrides risk. Nature 2023; 623:258-259. [PMID: 37880521 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-03085-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
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8
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Kato A, Ohta K, Okanoya K, Kazama H. Dopaminergic neurons dynamically update sensory values during olfactory maneuver. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113122. [PMID: 37757823 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopaminergic neurons (DANs) drive associative learning to update the value of sensory cues, but their contribution to the assessment of sensory values outside the context of association remains largely unexplored. Here, we show in Drosophila that DANs in the mushroom body encode the innate value of odors and constantly update the current value by inducing plasticity during olfactory maneuver. Our connectome-based network model linking all the way from the olfactory neurons to DANs reproduces the characteristics of DAN responses, proposing a concrete circuit mechanism for computation. Downstream of DANs, odors alone induce value- and dopamine-dependent changes in the activity of mushroom body output neurons, which store the current value of odors. Consistent with this neural plasticity, specific sets of DANs bidirectionally modulate flies' steering in a virtual olfactory environment. Thus, the DAN circuit known for discrete, associative learning also continuously updates odor values in a nonassociative manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayaka Kato
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Kazumi Ohta
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; RIKEN CBS-KAO Collaboration Center, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kazuo Okanoya
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Hokto Kazama
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan; RIKEN CBS-KAO Collaboration Center, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
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9
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Nuñez KM, Catalano JL, Scaplen KM, Kaun KR. Ethanol Behavioral Responses in Drosophila. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023; 2023:719-24. [PMID: 37019606 PMCID: PMC10551053 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top107887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful genetic model for investigating the mechanisms underlying ethanol-induced behaviors, metabolism, and preference. Ethanol-induced locomotor activity is especially useful for understanding the mechanisms by which ethanol acutely affects the brain and behavior. Ethanol-induced locomotor activity is characterized by hyperlocomotion and subsequent sedation with increased exposure duration or concentration. Locomotor activity is an efficient, easy, robust, and reproducible behavioral screening tool for identifying underlying genes and neuronal circuits as well as investigating genetic and molecular pathways. We introduce a detailed protocol for performing experiments investigating how volatilized ethanol affects locomotor activity using the fly Group Activity Monitor (flyGrAM). We introduce installation, implementation, data collection, and subsequent data-analysis methods for investigating how volatilized stimuli affect activity. We also introduce a procedure for how to optogenetically probe neuronal activity to identify the neural mechanisms underlying locomotor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavin M Nuñez
- Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Jamie L Catalano
- Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Kristin M Scaplen
- Department of Psychology, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917, USA
- Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Karla R Kaun
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
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10
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Aso Y, Yamada D, Bushey D, Hibbard KL, Sammons M, Otsuna H, Shuai Y, Hige T. Neural circuit mechanisms for transforming learned olfactory valences into wind-oriented movement. eLife 2023; 12:e85756. [PMID: 37721371 PMCID: PMC10588983 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
How memories are used by the brain to guide future action is poorly understood. In olfactory associative learning in Drosophila, multiple compartments of the mushroom body act in parallel to assign a valence to a stimulus. Here, we show that appetitive memories stored in different compartments induce different levels of upwind locomotion. Using a photoactivation screen of a new collection of split-GAL4 drivers and EM connectomics, we identified a cluster of neurons postsynaptic to the mushroom body output neurons (MBONs) that can trigger robust upwind steering. These UpWind Neurons (UpWiNs) integrate inhibitory and excitatory synaptic inputs from MBONs of appetitive and aversive memory compartments, respectively. After formation of appetitive memory, UpWiNs acquire enhanced response to reward-predicting odors as the response of the inhibitory presynaptic MBON undergoes depression. Blocking UpWiNs impaired appetitive memory and reduced upwind locomotion during retrieval. Photoactivation of UpWiNs also increased the chance of returning to a location where activation was terminated, suggesting an additional role in olfactory navigation. Thus, our results provide insight into how learned abstract valences are gradually transformed into concrete memory-driven actions through divergent and convergent networks, a neuronal architecture that is commonly found in the vertebrate and invertebrate brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Aso
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Daichi Yamada
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillUnited States
| | - Daniel Bushey
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Karen L Hibbard
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Megan Sammons
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Hideo Otsuna
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Yichun Shuai
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Toshihide Hige
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillUnited States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillUnited States
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillUnited States
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11
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Segu A, Radhakrishnan D, Kannan NN. Modified Capillary Feeder assay using micro-tips to measure real-time feeding in Drosophila. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102393. [PMID: 37384520 PMCID: PMC10511848 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102393] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Capillary Feeder assay (CAFE) is a real-time feeding assay used in Drosophila that employs micro-capillaries, which are costly. Here, we present a modified version of the assay by replacing micro-capillaries with micro-tips, hence ensuring the same principle with cost reduction by 500 times. We developed a mathematical approach to measure volume for the conical shaped micro-tips. In this protocol, we describe step-by-step procedures of pre-assay setup along with fly rearing; assay setup included with detailed analysis for volume calculations. For further verification and use of this protocol, please refer to Segu and Kannan.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Segu
- Chronobiology Laboratory, School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India.
| | - Devika Radhakrishnan
- Chronobiology Laboratory, School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Nisha N Kannan
- Chronobiology Laboratory, School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India.
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12
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Lange AP, Wolf FW. Alcohol sensitivity and tolerance encoding in sleep regulatory circadian neurons in Drosophila. Addict Biol 2023; 28:e13304. [PMID: 37500483 PMCID: PMC10911855 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13304] [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: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol tolerance is a simple form of behavioural and neural plasticity that occurs with the first drink. Neural plasticity in tolerance is likely a substrate for longer term adaptations that can lead to alcohol use disorder. Drosophila develop tolerance with characteristics similar to vertebrates, and it is a useful model for determining the molecular and circuit encoding mechanisms in detail. Rapid tolerance, measured after the first alcohol exposure is completely metabolized, is localized to specific brain regions that are not interconnected in an obvious way. We used a forward neuroanatomical screen to identify three new neural sites for rapid tolerance encoding. One of these was composed of two groups of neurons, the DN1a and DN1p glutamatergic neurons, that are part of the Drosophila circadian clock. We localized rapid tolerance to the two DN1a neurons that regulate arousal by light at night, temperature-dependent sleep timing, and night-time sleep. Two clock neurons that regulate evening activity, LNd6 and the 5th LNv, are postsynaptic to the DN1as, and they promote rapid tolerance via the metabotropic glutamate receptor. Thus, rapid tolerance to alcohol overlaps with sleep regulatory neural circuitry, suggesting a mechanistic link.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony P. Lange
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Merced, California, USA
| | - Fred W. Wolf
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Merced, California, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, California, USA
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13
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Eidhof I, Krebbers A, van de Warrenburg B, Schenck A. Ataxia-associated DNA repair genes protect the Drosophila mushroom body and locomotor function against glutamate signaling-associated damage. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1148947. [PMID: 37476399 PMCID: PMC10354283 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1148947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The precise control of motor movements is of fundamental importance to all behaviors in the animal kingdom. Efficient motor behavior depends on dedicated neuronal circuits - such as those in the cerebellum - that are controlled by extensive genetic programs. Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias (ARCAs) provide a valuable entry point into how interactions between genetic programs maintain cerebellar motor circuits. We previously identified a striking enrichment of DNA repair genes in ARCAs. How dysfunction of ARCA-associated DNA repair genes leads to preferential cerebellar dysfunction and impaired motor function is however unknown. The expression of ARCA DNA repair genes is not specific to the cerebellum. Only a limited number of animal models for DNA repair ARCAs exist, and, even for these, the interconnection between DNA repair defects, cerebellar circuit dysfunction, and motor behavior is barely established. We used Drosophila melanogaster to characterize the function of ARCA-associated DNA repair genes in the mushroom body (MB), a structure in the Drosophila central brain that shares structural features with the cerebellum. Here, we demonstrate that the MB is required for efficient startle-induced and spontaneous motor behaviors. Inhibition of synaptic transmission and loss-of-function of ARCA-associated DNA repair genes in the MB affected motor behavior in several assays. These motor deficits correlated with increased levels of MB DNA damage, MB Kenyon cell apoptosis and/or alterations in MB morphology. We further show that expression of genes involved in glutamate signaling pathways are highly, specifically, and persistently elevated in the postnatal human cerebellum. Manipulation of glutamate signaling in the MB induced motor defects, Kenyon cell DNA damage and apoptosis. Importantly, pharmacological reduction of glutamate signaling in the ARCA DNA repair models rescued the identified motor deficits, suggesting a role for aberrant glutamate signaling in ARCA-DNA repair disorders. In conclusion, our data highlight the importance of ARCA-associated DNA repair genes and glutamate signaling pathways to the cerebellum, the Drosophila MB and motor behavior. We propose that glutamate signaling may confer preferential cerebellar vulnerability in ARCA-associated DNA repair disorders. Targeting glutamate signaling could provide an exciting therapeutic entry point in this large group of so far untreatable disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilse Eidhof
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Alina Krebbers
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Bart van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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14
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Cummins-Beebee PN, Chvilicek MM, Rothenfluh A. The Stage-Based Model of Addiction-Using Drosophila to Investigate Alcohol and Psychostimulant Responses. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10909. [PMID: 37446084 PMCID: PMC10341944 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Addiction is a progressive and complex disease that encompasses a wide range of disorders and symptoms, including substance use disorder (SUD), for which there are few therapeutic treatments. SUD is the uncontrolled and chronic use of substances despite the negative consequences resulting from this use. The progressive nature of addiction is organized into a testable framework, the neurobiological stage-based model, that includes three behavioral stages: (1) binge/intoxication, (2) withdrawal/negative affect, and (3) preoccupation/anticipation. Human studies offer limited opportunities for mechanistic insights into these; therefore, model organisms, like Drosophila melanogaster, are necessary for understanding SUD. Drosophila is a powerful model organism that displays a variety of SUD-like behaviors consistent with human and mammalian substance use, making flies a great candidate to study mechanisms of behavior. Additionally, there are an abundance of genetic tools like the GAL4/UAS and CRISPR/Cas9 systems that can be used to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the endophenotypes of the three-stage model. This review uses the three-stage framework and discusses how easily testable endophenotypes have been examined with experiments using Drosophila, and it outlines their potential for investigating other endophenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pearl N. Cummins-Beebee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Maggie M. Chvilicek
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Adrian Rothenfluh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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15
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Atkinson NS. The Role of Toll and Nonnuclear NF-κB Signaling in the Response to Alcohol. Cells 2023; 12:1508. [PMID: 37296629 PMCID: PMC10252657 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111508] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
An understanding of neuroimmune signaling has become central to a description of how alcohol causes addiction and how it damages people with an AUD. It is well known that the neuroimmune system influences neural activity via changes in gene expression. This review discusses the roles played by CNS Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in the response to alcohol. Also discussed are observations in Drosophila that show how TLR signaling pathways can be co-opted by the nervous system and potentially shape behavior to a far greater extent and in ways different than generally recognized. For example, in Drosophila, TLRs substitute for neurotrophin receptors and an NF-κB at the end of a TLR pathway influences alcohol responsivity by acting non-genomically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel S Atkinson
- Department of Neuroscience and The Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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16
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Larnerd C, Adhikari P, Valdez A, Del Toro A, Wolf FW. Rapid and Chronic Ethanol Tolerance Are Composed of Distinct Memory-Like States in Drosophila. J Neurosci 2023; 43:2210-2220. [PMID: 36750369 PMCID: PMC10039739 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1348-22.2023] [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: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Ethanol tolerance is the first type of behavioral plasticity and neural plasticity that is induced by ethanol intake, and yet its molecular and circuit bases remain largely unexplored. Here, we characterize the following three distinct forms of ethanol tolerance in male Drosophila: rapid, chronic, and repeated. Rapid tolerance is composed of two short-lived memory-like states, one that is labile and one that is consolidated. Chronic tolerance, induced by continuous exposure, lasts for 2 d, induces ethanol preference, and hinders the development of rapid tolerance through the activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs). Unlike rapid tolerance, chronic tolerance is independent of the immediate early gene Hr38/Nr4a Chronic tolerance is suppressed by the sirtuin HDAC Sirt1, whereas rapid tolerance is enhanced by Sirt1 Moreover, rapid and chronic tolerance map to anatomically distinct regions of the mushroom body learning and memory centers. Chronic tolerance, like long-term memory, is dependent on new protein synthesis and it induces the kayak/c-fos immediate early gene, but it depends on CREB signaling outside the mushroom bodies, and it does not require the Radish GTPase. Thus, chronic ethanol exposure creates an ethanol-specific memory-like state that is molecularly and anatomically different from other forms of ethanol tolerance.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The pattern and concentration of initial ethanol exposure causes operationally distinct types of ethanol tolerance to form. We identify separate molecular and neural circuit mechanisms for two forms of ethanol tolerance, rapid and chronic. We also discover that chronic tolerance forms an ethanol-specific long-term memory-like state that localizes to learning and memory circuits, but it is different from appetitive and aversive long-term memories. By contrast, rapid tolerance is composed of labile and consolidated short-term memory-like states. The multiple forms of ethanol memory-like states are genetically tractable for understanding how initial forms of ethanol-induced neural plasticity form a substrate for the longer-term brain changes associated with alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb Larnerd
- Quantitative and Systems Biology, University of California, Merced, California 95343
| | - Pratik Adhikari
- Quantitative and Systems Biology, University of California, Merced, California 95343
| | - Ashley Valdez
- Biological Sciences, University of California, Merced, California 95343
| | | | - Fred W Wolf
- Quantitative and Systems Biology, University of California, Merced, California 95343
- Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, California 95343
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17
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Lange AP, Wolf FW. Alcohol tolerance encoding in sleep regulatory circadian neurons in Drosophila. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.30.526363. [PMID: 36778487 PMCID: PMC9915517 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.30.526363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol tolerance is a simple form of behavioral and neural plasticity that occurs with the first drink. Neural plasticity in tolerance is likely a substrate for longer term adaptations that can lead to alcohol use disorder. Drosophila develop tolerance with characteristics similar to vertebrates, and it is useful model for determining the molecular and circuit encoding mechanisms in detail. Rapid tolerance, measured after the first alcohol exposure is completely metabolized, is localized to specific brain regions that are not interconnected in an obvious way. We used a forward neuroanatomical screen to identify three new neural sites for rapid tolerance encoding. One of these was comprised of two groups of neurons, the DN1a and DN1p glutamatergic neurons, that are part of the Drosophila circadian clock. We localized rapid tolerance to the two DN1a neurons that regulate arousal by light at night, temperature-dependent sleep timing, and night-time sleep. Two clock neurons that regulate evening activity, LNd6 and the 5th LNv, are postsynaptic to the DN1as and they promote rapid tolerance via the metabotropic glutamate receptor. Thus, rapid tolerance to alcohol overlaps with sleep regulatory neural circuitry, suggesting a mechanistic link.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony P. Lange
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Merced, CA 95343
| | - Fred W. Wolf
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Merced, CA 95343
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, CA 95343
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18
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Radevski ME, Prendergast MA, Bardo MT, Akins CK. PT150 blocks the rewarding properties of ethanol and attenuates ethanol-induced reduction of egg laying in Coturnix quail. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:295-301. [PMID: 36607385 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06299-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Alcohol use disorder (AUD) has been shown to be associated with a dysregulated stress system. Reducing the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT), that binds to glucocorticoid receptors, may attenuate the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse. However, the effect of blocking corticosterone receptors on ethanol reward has yet to be investigated. OBJECTIVES The current study investigated whether the stress hormone receptor antagonist, PT150, would block the rewarding properties of ethanol via the glucocorticoid receptor system and attenuate other ethanol-induced effects. METHODS A conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure was used to examine the rewarding properties of ethanol in an avian preclinical model. Ethanol was paired with the least preferred chamber. On alternate days, water was paired with the preferred chamber. After eight pairings, a place preference test was given that allowed subjects to have access to both chambers. Half of the subjects received PT150 prior to ethanol administration. The other half received vehicle. Time spent in each chamber during the preference tests, locomotor activity during the pairings, and egg production in female birds was recorded. RESULTS Ethanol treatment resulted in a CPP and pretreatment of PT150 blocked the acquisition of the ethanol-induced place preference. Neither ethanol nor PT150 altered locomotor activity. Pretreatment of PT150 also increased egg production in female quail treated with ethanol. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest repeated ethanol pairings with visual cues can produce a CPP. Furthermore, pretreatment of PT150 may be a potential pharmacotherapy for blocking the rewarding properties of ethanol and may enhance egg production in female quail treated with ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia E Radevski
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA.
| | - Mark A Prendergast
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | - Michael T Bardo
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | - Chana K Akins
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
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19
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Wilson A, Periandri EM, Sievers M, Petruccelli E. Drosophila Stat92E Signaling Following Pre-exposure to Ethanol. Neurosci Insights 2023; 18:26331055221146755. [PMID: 36643884 PMCID: PMC9834942 DOI: 10.1177/26331055221146755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Repeated exposure to alcohol alters neuromolecular signaling that influences acute and long-lasting behaviors underlying Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Recent animal model research has implicated changes in the conserved JAK/STAT pathway, a signaling pathway classically associated with development and the innate immune system. How ethanol exposure impacts STAT signaling within neural cells is currently unclear. Here, we investigated the role of Drosophila Stat92E in ethanol-induced locomotion, signaling activity, and downstream transcriptional responses. Findings suggest that expressing Stat92E-RNAi causes enhanced ethanol-induced hyperactivity in flies previously exposed to ethanol. Furthermore, alternative splicing of Stat92E itself was detected after repeated ethanol exposure, although no changes were found in downstream transcriptional activity. This work adds to our growing understanding of altered neuromolecular signaling following ethanol exposure and suggests that STAT signaling may be a relevant target to consider for AUD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Emily Petruccelli
- Emily Petruccelli, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences, 44 Circle Dr, Edwardsville, IL 62026, USA.
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20
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Clabough EBD, Aspili C, Fussy WS, Ingersoll JD, Kislyakov A, Li ES, Su MJ, Wiles DB, Watson TE, Willy AJ, Thomas Vinyard H, Mollica Iii PJ, Taylor JV, Smith CW, Roark DA, Tabrani ZP, Thomas HL, Shin M, Venton BJ, Hayes D, Sipe CW. Huntingtin Plays a Role in the Physiological Response to Ethanol in Drosophila. J Huntingtons Dis 2023; 12:241-252. [PMID: 37661891 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-230581] [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] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntingtin (htt) protein is an essential regulator of nervous system function through its various neuroprotective and pro-survival functions, and loss of wild-type htt function is implicated in the etiology of Huntington's disease. While its pathological role is typically understood as a toxic gain-of-function, some neuronal phenotypes also result from htt loss. Therefore, it is important to understand possible roles for htt in other physiological circumstances. OBJECTIVE To elucidate the role of htt in the context of ethanol exposure, we investigated how loss of htt impacts behavioral and physiological responses to ethanol in Drosophila. METHODS We tested flies lacking htt for ethanol sensitivity and tolerance, preference for ethanol using capillary feeder assays, and recovery of mobility after intoxication. Levels of dopamine neurotransmitter and numbers of dopaminergic cells in brains lacking dhtt were also measured. RESULTS We found that dhtt-null flies are both less sensitive and more tolerant to ethanol exposure in adulthood. Moreover, flies lacking dhtt are more averse to alcohol than controls, and they recover mobility faster following acute ethanol intoxication. We showed that dhtt mediates these effects at least in part through the dopaminergic system, as dhtt is required to maintain normal levels of dopamine in the brain and normal numbers of dopaminergic cells in the adult protocerebrum. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that htt regulates the physiological response to ethanol and indicate a novel neuroprotective role for htt in the dopaminergic system, raising the possibility that it may be involved more generally in the response to toxic stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin B D Clabough
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Christia Aspili
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - William S Fussy
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | - James D Ingersoll
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | - Amy Kislyakov
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Li
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Meng-Jiuan Su
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Dustin B Wiles
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | - Thomas E Watson
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | - Aaron J Willy
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | - H Thomas Vinyard
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | | | - James V Taylor
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | - Cody W Smith
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | - Dallas A Roark
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | - Zachary P Tabrani
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | - Harris L Thomas
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | - Mimi Shin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - B Jill Venton
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - David Hayes
- Department of Biology, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV, USA
- Department of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Conor W Sipe
- Department of Biology, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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21
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Grunwald Kadow IC, Owald D. Decision making: Dopaminergic neurons for better or worse. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R1237-R1240. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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22
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Sleep Modulates Alcohol Toxicity in Drosophila. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012091. [PMID: 36292943 PMCID: PMC9603330 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol abuse is a significant public health problem. While considerable research has shown that alcohol use affects sleep, little is known about the role of sleep deprivation in alcohol toxicity. We investigated sleep as a factor modulating alcohol toxicity using Drosophila melanogaster, a model for studies of sleep, alcohol, and aging. Following 24 h of sleep deprivation using a paradigm that similarly affects males and females and induces rebound sleep, flies were given binge-like alcohol exposures. Sleep deprivation increased mortality, with no sex-dependent differences. Sleep deprivation also abolished functional tolerance measured at 24 h after the initial alcohol exposure, although there was no effect on alcohol absorbance or clearance. We investigated the effect of chronic sleep deprivation using mutants with decreased sleep, insomniac and insulin-like peptide 2, finding increased alcohol mortality. Furthermore, we investigated whether pharmacologically inducing sleep prior to alcohol exposure using the GABAA-receptor agonist 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo(5,4-c)pyridin-3-ol (THIP) mitigated the effects of alcohol toxicity on middle-aged flies, flies with environmentally disrupted circadian clocks, and flies with short sleep. Pharmacologically increasing sleep prior to alcohol exposure decreased alcohol-induced mortality. Thus, sleep prior to binge-like alcohol exposure affects alcohol-induced mortality, even in vulnerable groups such as aging flies and those with circadian dysfunction.
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23
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Mohandasan R, Thakare M, Sunke S, Iqbal FM, Sridharan M, Das G. Enhanced olfactory memory detection in trap-design Y-mazes allows the study of imperceptible memory traces in Drosophila. Learn Mem 2022; 29:355-366. [PMID: 36180129 PMCID: PMC9536757 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053545.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The neural basis of behavior is identified by systematically manipulating the activity of specific neurons and screening for loss or gain of phenotype. Therefore, robust, high-scoring behavioral assays are necessary for determining the neural circuits of novel behaviors. We report a simple Y-maze design for Drosophila olfactory learning and memory assay. Memory scores in our Y-mazes are considerably better and longer-lasting than scores obtained with commonly used T-mazes. Our results suggest that trapping flies to an odor choice in a Y-maze could improve scores. We postulated that the improved scores could reveal previously undetectable memory traces, enabling the study of underlying neural mechanisms. Indeed, we identified unreported protein synthesis-dependent long-term memories (LTMs), reinforced by ingestion of (1) an aversive compound and (2) a sweet but nonnutritious sugar, both 24 h after training. We also used Y-mazes to probe how using a greater reward may change memory dynamics. Our findings predict that a greater sugar reward may extend existing memory traces or reinforce additional novel ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radhika Mohandasan
- Brain and Feeding Behavior Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, S.P. Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
- Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
| | - Manikrao Thakare
- Brain and Feeding Behavior Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, S.P. Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
- Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
| | - Suhas Sunke
- Brain and Feeding Behavior Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, S.P. Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
| | - Fathima Mukthar Iqbal
- Brain and Feeding Behavior Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, S.P. Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
| | - Madhav Sridharan
- Brain and Feeding Behavior Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, S.P. Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
| | - Gaurav Das
- Brain and Feeding Behavior Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, S.P. Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India
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24
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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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25
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Abstract
Modulation of nociception allows animals to optimize chances of survival by adapting their behaviour in different contexts. In mammals, this is executed by neurons from the brain and is referred to as the descending control of nociception. Whether insects have such control, or the neural circuits allowing it, has rarely been explored. Based on behavioural, neuroscientific and molecular evidence, we argue that insects probably have descending controls for nociception. Behavioural work shows that insects can modulate nocifensive behaviour. Such modulation is at least in part controlled by the central nervous system since the information mediating such prioritization is processed by the brain. Central nervous system control of nociception is further supported by neuroanatomical and neurobiological evidence showing that the insect brain can facilitate or suppress nocifensive behaviour, and by molecular studies revealing pathways involved in the inhibition of nocifensive behaviour both peripherally and centrally. Insects lack the endogenous opioid peptides and their receptors that contribute to mammalian descending nociception controls, so we discuss likely alternative molecular mechanisms for the insect descending nociception controls. We discuss what the existence of descending control of nociception in insects may reveal about pain perception in insects and finally consider the ethical implications of these novel findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda Gibbons
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Sajedeh Sarlak
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, 31587-77871, Karaj, Iran
| | - Lars Chittka
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
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26
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Single-dose ethanol intoxication causes acute and lasting neuronal changes in the brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2122477119. [PMID: 35700362 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2122477119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol intoxication at early ages is a risk factor for the development of addictive behavior. To uncover neuronal molecular correlates of acute ethanol intoxication, we used stable-isotope-labeled mice combined with quantitative mass spectrometry to screen more than 2,000 hippocampal proteins, of which 72 changed synaptic abundance up to twofold after ethanol exposure. Among those were mitochondrial proteins and proteins important for neuronal morphology, including MAP6 and ankyrin-G. Based on these candidate proteins, we found acute and lasting molecular, cellular, and behavioral changes following a single intoxication in alcohol-naïve mice. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed a shortening of axon initial segments. Longitudinal two-photon in vivo imaging showed increased synaptic dynamics and mitochondrial trafficking in axons. Knockdown of mitochondrial trafficking in dopaminergic neurons abolished conditioned alcohol preference in Drosophila flies. This study introduces mitochondrial trafficking as a process implicated in reward learning and highlights the potential of high-resolution proteomics to identify cellular mechanisms relevant for addictive behavior.
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Chandler JA, Innocent LV, Martinez DJ, Huang IL, Yang JL, Eisen MB, Ludington WB. Microbiome-by-ethanol interactions impact Drosophila melanogaster fitness, physiology, and behavior. iScience 2022; 25:104000. [PMID: 35313693 PMCID: PMC8933687 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota can affect how animals respond to ingested toxins, such as ethanol, which is prevalent in the diets of diverse animals and often leads to negative health outcomes in humans. Ethanol is a complex dietary factor because it acts as a toxin, behavioral manipulator, and nutritional source, with both direct effects on the host as well as indirect ones through the microbiome. Here, we developed a model for chronic, non-intoxicating ethanol ingestion in the adult fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, and paired this with the tractability of the fly gut microbiota, which can be experimentally removed. We linked numerous physiological, behavioral, and transcriptional variables to fly fitness, including a combination of intestinal barrier integrity, stored triglyceride levels, feeding behavior, and the immunodeficiency pathway. Our results reveal a complex tradeoff between lifespan and fecundity that is microbiome-dependent and modulated by dietary ethanol and feeding behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Angus Chandler
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Lina Victoria Innocent
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | | | - Isaac Li Huang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jane Lani Yang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael Bruce Eisen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - William Basil Ludington
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Sheardown E, Mech AM, Petrazzini MEM, Leggieri A, Gidziela A, Hosseinian S, Sealy IM, Torres-Perez JV, Busch-Nentwich EM, Malanchini M, Brennan CH. Translational relevance of forward genetic screens in animal models for the study of psychiatric disease. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104559. [PMID: 35124155 PMCID: PMC9016269 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders represent a significant burden in our societies. Despite the convincing evidence pointing at gene and gene-environment interaction contributions, the role of genetics in the etiology of psychiatric disease is still poorly understood. Forward genetic screens in animal models have helped elucidate causal links. Here we discuss the application of mutagenesis-based forward genetic approaches in common animal model species: two invertebrates, nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans) and fruit flies (Drosophila sp.); and two vertebrates, zebrafish (Danio rerio) and mice (Mus musculus), in relation to psychiatric disease. We also discuss the use of large scale genomic studies in human populations. Despite the advances using data from human populations, animal models coupled with next-generation sequencing strategies are still needed. Although with its own limitations, zebrafish possess characteristics that make them especially well-suited to forward genetic studies exploring the etiology of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Sheardown
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Aleksandra M Mech
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | | | - Adele Leggieri
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Agnieszka Gidziela
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Saeedeh Hosseinian
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Ian M Sealy
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jose V Torres-Perez
- UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London and Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, 86 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Elisabeth M Busch-Nentwich
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Margherita Malanchini
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Caroline H Brennan
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK.
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29
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Dvořáček J, Bednářová A, Krishnan N, Kodrík D. Dopaminergic muhsroom body neurons in Drosophila: flexibility of neuron identity in a model organism? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104570. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Keesey IW, Hansson BS. Neuroecology of Alcohol Preference in Drosophila. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 67:261-279. [PMID: 34995092 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-070721-091828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this review, we highlight sources of alcohols in nature, as well as the behavioral and ecological roles that these fermentation cues play in the short lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. With a focus on neuroethology, we describe the olfactory detection of alcohol as well as ensuing neural signaling within the brain of the fly. We proceed to explain the plethora of behaviors related to alcohol, including attraction, feeding, and oviposition, as well as general effects on aggression and courtship. All of these behaviors are shaped by physiological state and social contexts. In a comparative perspective, we also discuss inter- and intraspecies differences related to alcohol tolerance and metabolism. Lastly, we provide corollaries with other dipteran and coleopteran insect species that also have olfactory systems attuned to ethanol detection and describe ecological and evolutionary directions for further studies of the natural history of alcohol and the fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian W Keesey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA;
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany;
| | - Bill S Hansson
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany;
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31
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Philyaw TJ, Rothenfluh A, Titos I. The Use of Drosophila to Understand Psychostimulant Responses. Biomedicines 2022; 10:119. [PMID: 35052798 PMCID: PMC8773124 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The addictive properties of psychostimulants such as cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and methylphenidate are based on their ability to increase dopaminergic neurotransmission in the reward system. While cocaine and methamphetamine are predominately used recreationally, amphetamine and methylphenidate also work as effective therapeutics to treat symptoms of disorders including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although both the addictive properties of psychostimulant drugs and their therapeutic efficacy are influenced by genetic variation, very few genes that regulate these processes in humans have been identified. This is largely due to population heterogeneity which entails a requirement for large samples. Drosophila melanogaster exhibits similar psychostimulant responses to humans, a high degree of gene conservation, and allow performance of behavioral assays in a large population. Additionally, amphetamine and methylphenidate reduce impairments in fly models of ADHD-like behavior. Therefore, Drosophila represents an ideal translational model organism to tackle the genetic components underlying the effects of psychostimulants. Here, we break down the many assays that reliably quantify the effects of cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and methylphenidate in Drosophila. We also discuss how Drosophila is an efficient and cost-effective model organism for identifying novel candidate genes and molecular mechanisms involved in the behavioral responses to psychostimulant drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis James Philyaw
- Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;
| | - Adrian Rothenfluh
- Department of Psychiatry, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Iris Titos
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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32
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Devineni AV, Scaplen KM. Neural Circuits Underlying Behavioral Flexibility: Insights From Drosophila. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:821680. [PMID: 35069145 PMCID: PMC8770416 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.821680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral flexibility is critical to survival. Animals must adapt their behavioral responses based on changes in the environmental context, internal state, or experience. Studies in Drosophila melanogaster have provided insight into the neural circuit mechanisms underlying behavioral flexibility. Here we discuss how Drosophila behavior is modulated by internal and behavioral state, environmental context, and learning. We describe general principles of neural circuit organization and modulation that underlie behavioral flexibility, principles that are likely to extend to other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita V. Devineni
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kristin M. Scaplen
- Department of Psychology, Bryant University, Smithfield, RI, United States
- Center for Health and Behavioral Studies, Bryant University, Smithfield, RI, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
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33
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Karam CS, Williams BL, Jones SK, Javitch JA. The Role of the Dopamine Transporter in the Effects of Amphetamine on Sleep and Sleep Architecture in Drosophila. Neurochem Res 2022; 47:177-189. [PMID: 33630236 PMCID: PMC8384956 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03275-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The dopamine transporter (DAT) mediates the inactivation of released dopamine (DA) through its reuptake, and thereby plays an important homeostatic role in dopaminergic neurotransmission. Amphetamines exert their stimulant effects by targeting DAT and inducing the reverse transport of DA, leading to a dramatic increase of extracellular DA. Animal models have proven critical to investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying transporter function and its modulation by psychostimulants such as amphetamine. Here we establish a behavioral model for amphetamine action using adult Drosophila melanogaster. We use it to characterize the effects of amphetamine on sleep and sleep architecture. Our data show that amphetamine induces hyperactivity and disrupts sleep in a DA-dependent manner. Flies that do not express a functional DAT (dDAT null mutants) have been shown to be hyperactive and to exhibit significantly reduced sleep at baseline. Our data show that, in contrast to its action in control flies, amphetamine decreases the locomotor activity of dDAT null mutants and restores their sleep by modulating distinct aspects of sleep structure. To begin to explore the circuitry involved in the actions of amphetamine on sleep, we also describe the localization of dDAT throughout the fly brain, particularly in neuropils known to regulate sleep. Together, our data establish Drosophila as a robust model for studying the regulatory mechanisms that govern DAT function and psychostimulant action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caline S Karam
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brenna L Williams
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sandra K Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan A Javitch
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1051 Riverside Dr, Unit 19, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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34
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Holbrook OT, Molligoda B, Bushell KN, Gobrogge KL. Behavioral consequences of the downstream products of ethanol metabolism involved in alcohol use disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 133:104501. [PMID: 34942269 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Research concerning Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) has previously focused primarily on either the behavioral or chemical consequences experienced following ethanol intake, but these areas of research have rarely been considered in tandem. Compared with other drugs of abuse, ethanol has been shown to have a unique metabolic pathway once it enters the body, which leads to the formation of downstream metabolites which can go on to form biologically active products. These metabolites can mediate a variety of behavioral responses that are commonly observed with AUD, such as ethanol intake, reinforcement, and vulnerability to relapse. The following review considers the preclinical and chemical research implicating these downstream products in AUD and proposes a chemobehavioral model of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto T Holbrook
- Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215-2425, USA.
| | - Brandon Molligoda
- Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215-2425, USA.
| | - Kristen N Bushell
- Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215-2425, USA
| | - Kyle L Gobrogge
- Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215-2425, USA
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35
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Scheffer LK, Meinertzhagen IA. A connectome is not enough - what is still needed to understand the brain of Drosophila? J Exp Biol 2021; 224:272599. [PMID: 34695211 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the structure and operation of any nervous system has been a subject of research for well over a century. A near-term opportunity in this quest is to understand the brain of a model species, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. This is an enticing target given its relatively small size (roughly 200,000 neurons), coupled with the behavioral richness that this brain supports, and the wide variety of techniques now available to study both brain and behavior. It is clear that within a few years we will possess a connectome for D. melanogaster: an electron-microscopy-level description of all neurons and their chemical synaptic connections. Given what we will soon have, what we already know and the research that is currently underway, what more do we need to know to enable us to understand the fly's brain? Here, we itemize the data we will need to obtain, collate and organize in order to build an integrated model of the brain of D. melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis K Scheffer
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19741 Smith Circle, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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36
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Merriman K, Petruccelli E. Using the Drosophila Transcriptional Reporter of Intracellular Calcium (TRIC) to examine lasting ethanol-induced changes in neuroexcitability. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2021; 2021. [PMID: 34585103 PMCID: PMC8461458 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The Drosophila transcriptional reporter of intracellular calcium (TRIC) is a genetic tool used to measure lasting changes in neuroexcitability. Both pan-neuronal and dopaminergic cells were examined with TRIC to test the hypothesis that ethanol exposure causes lasting changes in adult brain neuroexcitability. We found little to no impact on TRIC signal following acute and repeated ethanol vapor exposures. This work shows that TRIC may be useful in future investigations such as developmental or chronic drug exposure paradigms.
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Park A, Tran T, Gutierrez L, Stojanik CJ, Plyler J, Thompson GA, Bohm RA, Scheuerman EA, Smith DP, Atkinson NS. Alcohol-induced aggression in Drosophila. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e13045. [PMID: 34044470 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol-induced aggression is a destructive and widespread phenomenon associated with violence and sexual assault. However, little is understood concerning its mechanistic origin. We have developed a Drosophila melanogaster model to genetically dissect and understand the phenomenon of sexually dimorphic alcohol-induced aggression. Males with blood alcohol levels of 0.04-mg/ml BAC were less aggressive than alcohol-naive males, but when the BAC had dropped to ~0.015 mg/ml, the alcohol-treated males showed an increase in aggression toward other males. This aggression-promoting treatment is referred to as the post-ethanol aggression (PEA) treatment. Females do not show increased aggression after the same treatment. PEA-treated males also spend less time courting and attempt to copulate earlier than alcohol-naive flies. PEA treatment induces expression of the FruM transcription factor (encoded by a male-specific transcript from the fruitless gene), whereas sedating doses of alcohol reduce FruM expression and reduce male aggression. Transgenic suppression of FruM induction also prevents alcohol-induced aggression. In male flies, alcohol-induced aggression is dependent on the male isoform of the fruitless transcription factor (FruM). Low-dose alcohol induces FruM expression and promotes aggression, whereas higher doses of alcohol suppress FruM and suppress aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Park
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour The University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Tracy Tran
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Linda Gutierrez
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Christopher J. Stojanik
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Julian Plyler
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Grace A. Thompson
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Rudolf A. Bohm
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences Texas A&M University‐Kingsville Kingsville Texas USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Scheuerman
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas USA
| | - Dean P. Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas USA
| | - Nigel S. Atkinson
- Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
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38
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Bennett MS. Five Breakthroughs: A First Approximation of Brain Evolution From Early Bilaterians to Humans. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:693346. [PMID: 34489649 PMCID: PMC8418099 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.693346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Retracing the evolutionary steps by which human brains evolved can offer insights into the underlying mechanisms of human brain function as well as the phylogenetic origin of various features of human behavior. To this end, this article presents a model for interpreting the physical and behavioral modifications throughout major milestones in human brain evolution. This model introduces the concept of a "breakthrough" as a useful tool for interpreting suites of brain modifications and the various adaptive behaviors these modifications enabled. This offers a unique view into the ordered steps by which human brains evolved and suggests several unique hypotheses on the mechanisms of human brain function.
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39
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A network of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP 2) binding sites on the dopamine transporter regulates amphetamine behavior in Drosophila Melanogaster. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:4417-4430. [PMID: 31796894 PMCID: PMC7266731 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0620-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Reward modulates the saliency of a specific drug exposure and is essential for the transition to addiction. Numerous human PET-fMRI studies establish a link between midbrain dopamine (DA) release, DA transporter (DAT) availability, and reward responses. However, how and whether DAT function and regulation directly participate in reward processes remains elusive. Here, we developed a novel experimental paradigm in Drosophila melanogaster to study the mechanisms underlying the psychomotor and rewarding properties of amphetamine (AMPH). AMPH principally mediates its pharmacological and behavioral effects by increasing DA availability through the reversal of DAT function (DA efflux). We have previously shown that the phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol (4, 5)-bisphosphate (PIP2), directly interacts with the DAT N-terminus to support DA efflux in response to AMPH. In this study, we demonstrate that the interaction of PIP2 with the DAT N-terminus is critical for AMPH-induced DAT phosphorylation, a process required for DA efflux. We showed that PIP2 also interacts with intracellular loop 4 at R443. Further, we identified that R443 electrostatically regulates DA efflux as part of a coordinated interaction with the phosphorylated N-terminus. In Drosophila, we determined that a neutralizing substitution at R443 inhibited the psychomotor actions of AMPH. We associated this inhibition with a decrease in AMPH-induced DA efflux in isolated fly brains. Notably, we showed that the electrostatic interactions of R443 specifically regulate the rewarding properties of AMPH without affecting AMPH aversion. We present the first evidence linking PIP2, DAT, DA efflux, and phosphorylation processes with AMPH reward.
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40
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Thoener J, König C, Weiglein A, Toshima N, Mancini N, Amin F, Schleyer M. Associative learning in larval and adult Drosophila is impaired by the dopamine-synthesis inhibitor 3-Iodo-L-tyrosine. Biol Open 2021; 10:269081. [PMID: 34106227 PMCID: PMC8214425 DOI: 10.1242/bio.058198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Across the animal kingdom, dopamine plays a crucial role in conferring reinforcement signals that teach animals about the causal structure of the world. In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, dopaminergic reinforcement has largely been studied using genetics, whereas pharmacological approaches have received less attention. Here, we apply the dopamine-synthesis inhibitor 3-Iodo-L-tyrosine (3IY), which causes acute systemic inhibition of dopamine signaling, and investigate its effects on Pavlovian conditioning. We find that 3IY feeding impairs sugar-reward learning in larvae while leaving task-relevant behavioral faculties intact, and that additional feeding of a precursor of dopamine (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, L-DOPA), rescues this impairment. Concerning a different developmental stage and for the aversive valence domain. Moreover, we demonstrate that punishment learning by activating the dopaminergic neuron PPL1-γ1pedc in adult flies is also impaired by 3IY feeding, and can likewise be rescued by L-DOPA. Our findings exemplify the advantages of using a pharmacological approach in combination with the genetic techniques available in D. melanogaster to manipulate neuronal and behavioral function. Summary: We surveyed the effects of a dopamine-synthesis inhibitor on associative learning in larval and adult Drosophila. This approach can supplement genetic tools in investigating the conserved reinforcing function of dopamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Thoener
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department of Genetics, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Christian König
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department of Genetics, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Aliće Weiglein
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department of Genetics, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Naoko Toshima
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department of Genetics, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Nino Mancini
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department of Genetics, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Fatima Amin
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department of Genetics, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Michael Schleyer
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Department of Genetics, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany
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41
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Schumann I, Berger M, Nowag N, Schäfer Y, Saumweber J, Scholz H, Thum AS. Ethanol-guided behavior in Drosophila larvae. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12307. [PMID: 34112872 PMCID: PMC8192949 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91677-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory signals allow vertebrates and invertebrates not only to orient in its environment toward energy-rich food sources to maintain nutrition but also to avoid unpleasant or even poisonous substrates. Ethanol is a substance found in the natural environment of Drosophila melanogaster. Accordingly, D. melanogaster has evolved specific sensory systems, physiological adaptations, and associated behaviors at its larval and adult stage to perceive and process ethanol. To systematically analyze how D. melanogaster larvae respond to naturally occurring ethanol, we examined ethanol-induced behavior in great detail by reevaluating existing approaches and comparing them with new experiments. Using behavioral assays, we confirm that larvae are attracted to different concentrations of ethanol in their environment. This behavior is controlled by olfactory and other environmental cues. It is independent of previous exposure to ethanol in their food. Moreover, moderate, naturally occurring ethanol concentration of 4% results in increased larval fitness. On the contrary, higher concentrations of 10% and 20% ethanol, which rarely or never appear in nature, increase larval mortality. Finally, ethanol also serves as a positive teaching signal in learning and memory and updates valence associated with simultaneously processed odor information. Since information on how larvae perceive and process ethanol at the genetic and neuronal level is limited, the establishment of standardized assays described here is an important step towards their discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabell Schumann
- Department of Genetics, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Berger
- Department of Biology, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nadine Nowag
- Department of Genetics, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Yannick Schäfer
- Department of Biology, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Henrike Scholz
- Department of Biology, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Andreas S Thum
- Department of Genetics, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. .,Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Talstraße 33, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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42
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Oepen AS, Catalano JL, Azanchi R, Kaun KR. The foraging gene affects alcohol sensitivity, metabolism and memory in Drosophila. J Neurogenet 2021; 35:236-248. [PMID: 34092172 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2021.1931178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The genetic basis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) is complex. Understanding how natural genetic variation contributes to alcohol phenotypes can help us identify and understand the genetic basis of AUD. Recently, a single nucleotide polymorphism in the human foraging (for) gene ortholog, Protein Kinase cGMP-Dependent 1 (PRKG1), was found to be associated with stress-induced risk for alcohol abuse. However, the mechanistic role that PRKG1 plays in AUD is not well understood. We use natural variation in the Drosophila for gene to describe how variation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) activity modifies ethanol-induced phenotypes. We found that variation in for affects ethanol-induced increases in locomotion and memory of the appetitive properties of ethanol intoxication. Further, these differences may stem from the ability to metabolize ethanol. Together, this data suggests that natural variation in PKG modulates cue reactivity for alcohol, and thus could influence alcohol cravings by differentially modulating metabolic and behavioral sensitivities to alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne S Oepen
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.,Masters Program in Developmental, Neuronal and Behavioral Biology, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jamie L Catalano
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Reza Azanchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Karla R Kaun
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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43
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Lee SS, Adams ME. Regulation of Drosophila Long-Term Courtship Memory by Ecdysis Triggering Hormone. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:670322. [PMID: 33967686 PMCID: PMC8100193 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.670322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocrine state is an important determinant of learning and memory in animals. In Drosophila, rejection of male courtship overtures by mated females leads to an aversive response manifested as courtship memory. Here we report that ecdysis triggering hormone (ETH) is an obligatory enabler of long-term courtship memory (LTM). ETH deficiency suppresses LTM, whereas augmented ETH release reduces the minimum training period required for LTM induction. ETH receptor knockdown either in the mushroom body (MB) γ lobe or in octopaminergic dorsal-anterior-lateral (DAL) neurons impairs memory performance, indicating its direct action in these brain areas. Consistent with these findings, brain exposure to ETH mobilizes calcium in MB γ lobe neuropils and DAL neurons. ETH receptor (ETHR) knockdown in the corpus allatum (CA) to create juvenile hormone (JH) deficiency also suppresses LTM, as does knockdown of the JH receptor Met in the MB γ lobe, indicating a convergence of ETH and JH signaling in this region of the brain. Our findings identify endocrine-enabled neural circuit components in the brain that are critical for persistent behavioral changes resulting from aversive social experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Soo Lee
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States.,Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Michael E Adams
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States.,Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States.,Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
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44
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Scaplen KM, Petruccelli E. Receptors and Channels Associated with Alcohol Use: Contributions from Drosophila. Neurosci Insights 2021; 16:26331055211007441. [PMID: 33870197 PMCID: PMC8020223 DOI: 10.1177/26331055211007441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a debilitating disorder that manifests as problematic patterns of alcohol use. At the core of AUD's behavioral manifestations are the profound structural, physiological, cellular, and molecular effects of alcohol on the brain. While the field has made considerable progress in understanding the neuromolecular targets of alcohol we still lack a comprehensive understanding of alcohol's actions and effective treatment strategies. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model for investigating the neuromolecular targets of alcohol because flies model many of the core behavioral elements of AUD and offer a rich genetic toolkit to precisely reveal the in vivo molecular actions of alcohol. In this review, we focus on receptors and channels that are often targeted by alcohol within the brain. We discuss the general roles of these proteins, their role in alcohol-associated behaviors across species, and propose ways in which Drosophila models can help advance the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M Scaplen
- Department of Psychology, Bryant University, Smithfield, RI, USA
- Center for Health and Behavioral Studies, Bryant University, Smithfield, RI, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Emily Petruccelli
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL, USA
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45
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Ebrahimi Z, Kahvandi N, Komaki A, Karimi SA, Naderishahab M, Sarihi A. The role of mGlu4 receptors within the nucleus accumbens in acquisition and expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in male rats. BMC Neurosci 2021; 22:17. [PMID: 33743609 PMCID: PMC7981834 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-021-00627-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several studies have shown that glutamate neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is required for the development of morphine-induced conditional place preference (CPP). In addition, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in NAc play important roles in the reward pathways. However, the precise role of mGluR4 in different steps of the morphine-induced CPP is less well known. In the present study the effect of bilateral intra-accumbal infusion of VU0155041, as a specific mGluR4 agonist on the acquisition and expression of morphine induced CPP in male Wistar rats was investigated. The animals were bilaterally implanted with guide cannulae above the NAc. In the first step of the study, the VU0155041 was administered at doses of 10, 30 and 50 μg/0.5 μL saline per side into the NAc during the 3 days of morphine (5 mg/kg) conditioning (acquisition) phase of morphine-induced CPP. In the second step of the study, the rats bilaterally received VU0155041 at the dose of 50 μg/0.5 μL, 5 min before the post-conditioning test in order to check the effect of VU0155041 on the expression of morphine-induced CPP. Results The results showed that the intra-accumbal injection of VU0155041 inhibits the acquisition of morphine-induced CPP in a dose dependent manner, but had no effect on expression. Conclusions The data indicated that intra-NAc administration of VU0155041 dose dependently blocks the establishment of morphine-induced CPP and reduces the rewarding properties of morphine. These effects may be related to changes in glutamate activity in the NAC and/or learning dependent mechanism of glutamate neurotransmission in reward pathway(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Ebrahimi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Nazanin Kahvandi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Alireza Komaki
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Sciences and Advanced Technology in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Seyed Asaad Karimi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.,Department of Neuroscience, School of Sciences and Advanced Technology in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Marzieh Naderishahab
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Abdolrahman Sarihi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. .,Department of Neuroscience, School of Sciences and Advanced Technology in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
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46
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Kanno M, Hiramatsu S, Kondo S, Tanimoto H, Ichinose T. Voluntary intake of psychoactive substances is regulated by the dopamine receptor Dop1R1 in Drosophila. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3432. [PMID: 33564023 PMCID: PMC7873259 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82813-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated motivation to consume psychoactive substances leads to addictive behaviors that often result in serious health consequences. Understanding the neuronal mechanisms that drive drug consumption is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster offers a unique opportunity to approach this problem with a battery of sophisticated neurogenetic tools available, but how they consume these drugs remains largely unknown. Here, we examined drug self-administration behavior of Drosophila and the underlying neuronal mechanisms. We measured the preference of flies for five different psychoactive substances using a two-choice feeding assay and monitored its long-term changes. We found that flies show acute preference for ethanol and methamphetamine, but not for cocaine, caffeine or morphine. Repeated intake of ethanol, but not methamphetamine, increased over time. Preference for methamphetamine and the long-term escalation of ethanol preference required the dopamine receptor Dop1R1 in the mushroom body. The protein level of Dop1R1 increased after repeated intake of ethanol, but not methamphetamine, which correlates with the acquired preference. Genetic overexpression of Dop1R1 enhanced ethanol preference. These results reveal a striking diversity of response to individual drugs in the fly and the role of dopamine signaling and its plastic changes in controlling voluntary intake of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai Kanno
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Shun Hiramatsu
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Shu Kondo
- Invertebrate Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, 411-8540, Japan
| | - Hiromu Tanimoto
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Toshiharu Ichinose
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan. .,Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan. .,Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Niigata University, Niigata, 950-2181, Japan. .,Department of Neuropharmacology, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, 467-8603, Japan.
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47
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Dvořáček J, Kodrík D. Drosophila reward system - A summary of current knowledge. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 123:301-319. [PMID: 33421541 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster brain is the most extensively investigated model of a reward system in insects. Drosophila can discriminate between rewarding and punishing environmental stimuli and consequently undergo associative learning. Functional models, especially those modelling mushroom bodies, are constantly being developed using newly discovered information, adding to the complexity of creating a simple model of the reward system. This review aims to clarify whether its reward system also includes a hedonic component. Neurochemical systems that mediate the 'wanting' component of reward in the Drosophila brain are well documented, however, the systems that mediate the pleasure component of reward in mammals, including those involving the endogenous opioid and endocannabinoid systems, are unlikely to be present in insects. The mushroom body components exhibit differential developmental age and different functional processes. We propose a hypothetical hierarchy of the levels of reinforcement processing in response to particular stimuli, and the parallel processes that take place concurrently. The possible presence of activity-silencing and meta-satiety inducing levels in Drosophila should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Dvořáček
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, CAS, and Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Dalibor Kodrík
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, CAS, and Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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48
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Chvilicek MM, Titos I, Rothenfluh A. The Neurotransmitters Involved in Drosophila Alcohol-Induced Behaviors. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:607700. [PMID: 33384590 PMCID: PMC7770116 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.607700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol is a widely used and abused substance with numerous negative consequences for human health and safety. Historically, alcohol's widespread, non-specific neurobiological effects have made it a challenge to study in humans. Therefore, model organisms are a critical tool for unraveling the mechanisms of alcohol action and subsequent effects on behavior. Drosophila melanogaster is genetically tractable and displays a vast behavioral repertoire, making it a particularly good candidate for examining the neurobiology of alcohol responses. In addition to being experimentally amenable, Drosophila have high face and mechanistic validity: their alcohol-related behaviors are remarkably consistent with humans and other mammalian species, and they share numerous conserved neurotransmitters and signaling pathways. Flies have a long history in alcohol research, which has been enhanced in recent years by the development of tools that allow for manipulating individual Drosophila neurotransmitters. Through advancements such as the GAL4/UAS system and CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis, investigation of specific neurotransmitters in small subsets of neurons has become ever more achievable. In this review, we describe recent progress in understanding the contribution of seven neurotransmitters to fly behavior, focusing on their roles in alcohol response: dopamine, octopamine, tyramine, serotonin, glutamate, GABA, and acetylcholine. We chose these small-molecule neurotransmitters due to their conservation in mammals and their importance for behavior. While neurotransmitters like dopamine and octopamine have received significant research emphasis regarding their contributions to behavior, others, like glutamate, GABA, and acetylcholine, remain relatively unexplored. Here, we summarize recent genetic and behavioral findings concerning these seven neurotransmitters and their roles in the behavioral response to alcohol, highlighting the fitness of the fly as a model for human alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie M. Chvilicek
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Iris Titos
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Adrian Rothenfluh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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49
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McKendrick G, Graziane NM. Drug-Induced Conditioned Place Preference and Its Practical Use in Substance Use Disorder Research. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:582147. [PMID: 33132862 PMCID: PMC7550834 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.582147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm is a well-established model utilized to study the role of context associations in reward-related behaviors, including both natural rewards and drugs of abuse. In this review article, we discuss the basic history, various uses, and considerations that are tied to this technique. There are many potential takeaway implications of this model, including negative affective states, conditioned drug effects, memory, and motivation, which are all considered here. We also discuss the neurobiology of CPP including relevant brain regions, molecular signaling cascades, and neuromodulatory systems. We further examine some of our prior findings and how they integrate CPP with self-administration paradigms. Overall, by describing the fundamentals of CPP, findings from the past few decades, and implications of using CPP as a research paradigm, we have endeavored to support the case that the CPP method is specifically advantageous for studying the role of a form of Pavlovian learning that associates drug use with the surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greer McKendrick
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Nicholas M Graziane
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
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50
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Lathen DR, Merrill CB, Rothenfluh A. Flying Together: Drosophila as a Tool to Understand the Genetics of Human Alcoholism. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6649. [PMID: 32932795 PMCID: PMC7555299 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) exacts an immense toll on individuals, families, and society. Genetic factors determine up to 60% of an individual's risk of developing problematic alcohol habits. Effective AUD prevention and treatment requires knowledge of the genes that predispose people to alcoholism, play a role in alcohol responses, and/or contribute to the development of addiction. As a highly tractable and translatable genetic and behavioral model organism, Drosophila melanogaster has proven valuable to uncover important genes and mechanistic pathways that have obvious orthologs in humans and that help explain the complexities of addiction. Vinegar flies exhibit remarkably strong face and mechanistic validity as a model for AUDs, permitting many advancements in the quest to understand human genetic involvement in this disease. These advancements occur via approaches that essentially fall into one of two categories: (1) discovering candidate genes via human genome-wide association studies (GWAS), transcriptomics on post-mortem tissue from AUD patients, or relevant physiological connections, then using reverse genetics in flies to validate candidate genes' roles and investigate their molecular function in the context of alcohol. (2) Utilizing flies to discover candidate genes through unbiased screens, GWAS, quantitative trait locus analyses, transcriptomics, or single-gene studies, then validating their translational role in human genetic surveys. In this review, we highlight the utility of Drosophila as a model for alcoholism by surveying recent advances in our understanding of human AUDs that resulted from these various approaches. We summarize the genes that are conserved in alcohol-related function between humans and flies. We also provide insight into some advantages and limitations of these approaches. Overall, this review demonstrates how Drosophila have and can be used to answer important genetic questions about alcohol addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Lathen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA;
| | - Collin B. Merrill
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;
| | - Adrian Rothenfluh
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA;
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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