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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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Nuñez KM, Catalano JL, Scaplen KM, Kaun KR. Methods for Exploring the Circuit Basis of Ethanol-Induced Changes in Drosophila Group Locomotor Activity. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023; 2023:108138. [PMID: 37019608 PMCID: PMC10551048 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot108138] [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
Locomotion is a behavioral readout that can be used to understand responses to specific stimuli or perturbations. The fly Group Activity Monitor (flyGrAM) provides a high-throughput and high-content readout of the acute stimulatory and sedative effects of ethanol. The flyGrAM system is adaptable and seamlessly introduces thermogenetic or optogenetic stimulation to dissect neural circuits underlying behavior and tests responses to other volatilized stimuli (humidified air, odorants, anesthetics, vaporized drugs of abuse, etc.). The automated quantification and readout of activity provide users with a real-time representation of the group activity within each chamber throughout the experiment, helping users to quickly determine proper ethanol doses and duration, run behavioral screens, and plan follow-up experiments.
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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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Korczyńska J, Szczuka A, Urzykowska J, Kochanowski M, Andrzejczyk NG, Piwowarek KJ, Godzińska EJ. The Effects of Ethanol and Acetic acid on Behaviour of Extranidal Workers of the Narrow-Headed Ant Formica exsecta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) during a Field Experiment. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2734. [PMID: 37684998 PMCID: PMC10486794 DOI: 10.3390/ani13172734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ethanol addiction belongs to the most important problems encountered in the domain of human mental health. The research on the behavioural effects of exposure to/consumption of ethanol are investigated largely with the help of animal models that also include insects, mainly fruit flies and honeybees. The effects of ethanol on ant behaviour remain, however, little known. In the present field study, we investigated the behaviour of workers of the narrow-headed ant (Formica exsecta) displayed in the vicinity of cotton pads soaked in water or in water solutions of ethanol or acetic acid during 5 min tests (n = 30 tests in each group). Both ethanol and acetic acid induced significant modifications of ant locomotion, exploratory behaviour, self-grooming behaviour, and aggressive social behaviour. We confirmed that acetic acid is aversive for the ants, but ethanol enhances their exploratory behaviour. We also found out that field studies may document more types of responses to experimental compounds than laboratory ones, as the tested animals may also escape from aversive substances. Our findings documented a wide spectrum of behavioural effects of exposure to ethanol and acetic acid in a highly social animal species and broadened the general knowledge about behavioural responses to these compounds encountered in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Korczyńska
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
| | - Anna Szczuka
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
| | - Julia Urzykowska
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
- Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Ilji Miecznikowa 1, PL 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Kochanowski
- Botanic Garden, University of Warsaw, Aleje Ujazdowskie 4, PL 00-478 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Neptun Gabriela Andrzejczyk
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Ilji Miecznikowa 1, PL 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (N.G.A.); (K.J.P.)
| | - Kacper Jerzy Piwowarek
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Ilji Miecznikowa 1, PL 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (N.G.A.); (K.J.P.)
| | - Ewa Joanna Godzińska
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
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Wang R, Ma B, Shi K, Wu F, Zhou C. Effects of lithium on aggression in Drosophila. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:754-763. [PMID: 36253547 PMCID: PMC10066353 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01475-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Lithium is a common medication used to treat mania and bipolar disorder, but the mechanisms by which lithium stabilizes mood and modifies aggression are still not fully understood. Here we found that acute but not chronic lithium significantly suppresses aggression without affecting locomotion in Drosophila melanogaster. Male flies treated with acute lithium are also less competitive than control males in establishing dominance. We also provided evidence that glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), a well-known target of lithium, plays an important role in the anti-aggressive effect of lithium in Drosophila. Our genetic data showed that acute knockdown of GSK-3 in neurons can mimic the inhibitory effect of acute lithium on aggression, while specific overexpression of GSK-3 in a subset of P1 neurons profoundly promotes aggression which can be partially rescued by acute lithium application. Thus, these findings revealed the inhibitory effect of lithium on aggression in Drosophila and laid a groundwork for using Drosophila as a powerful model to investigate the mechanisms by which lithium reduces aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rencong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Baoxu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Fengming Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China.
| | - Chuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China.
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China.
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Lin D, Guo Y, Chen X, Yang H, Li Q, Liu Q, Luo F, Meng K, Yang S, Cheng X, Ma W, Chen X, Wang M, Zhao Y. Identification and expression pattern of the sex determination gene fruitless-like in Cherax quadricarinatus. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 259:110704. [PMID: 34920111 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110704] [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: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The fruitless (fru) gene has an important function in the courtship behavior and sex determination pathway of Drosophila melanogaster; however, the fru gene has never been reported in shrimps. In this study, the fruitless-like gene was identified in Cherax quadricarinatus (Cqfru) and is reported here for the first time. A sequence analysis revealed a conserved BTB domain in Cqfru which is the same as fru in D. melanogaster. An analysis of the expression level of Cqfru showed that it was highly expressed in the gastrula stage during embryonic development. Furthermore, in situ hybridization and expression distribution in tissues showed that its sexually dimorphic expression may be focused on the hepatopancreas, brains, and gonads. The gonads, brains, and hepatopancreas of males had a higher expression level of Cqfru than those of females; however, the expression level of the abdominal ganglion was found to be higher in females than in males in this study. The results of an RNA interference treatment showed that a knockdown of Cqfru reduced the expression of the insulin-like androgenic gland hormone (IAG) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). The characteristic fru gene in shrimps is reported here for the first time, with the results providing basic information for research into the sex-determination mechanism in C. quadricarinatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Lin
- Tianjin Key Lab of Aqua-Ecology and Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Yongjun Guo
- Tianjin Key Lab of Aqua-Ecology and Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Xiuli Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Huizan Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Qiangyong Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Qingyun Liu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Fuli Luo
- Tianjin Key Lab of Aqua-Ecology and Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Kui Meng
- Tianjin Key Lab of Aqua-Ecology and Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Songting Yang
- Tianjin Key Lab of Aqua-Ecology and Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Xinquan Cheng
- Tianjin Key Lab of Aqua-Ecology and Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Wenming Ma
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohan Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Moran Wang
- Tianjin Key Lab of Aqua-Ecology and Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, China.
| | - Yongzhen Zhao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Nanning, China.
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Santalla M, Gómez IM, Valverde CA, Ferrero P. A low-cost Portable Device to Deliver Smoke, Volatile or Vaporized Substances to Drosophila melanogaster, Useful for Research and/or Educational Assays. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e4244. [PMID: 35005089 PMCID: PMC8678554 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster has been used to test drugs of abuse, substances with potential benefits for medical purposes, as well as contaminants and hazardous volatile compounds. This model has also been used for the characterization of behavioral changes, physiopathological consequences, and subcellular mechanisms of the use of cocaine, methamphetamines, ethanol, nicotine, cannabinoids, toluene, and other airborne volatile organic compounds. When testing these substances, routes of administration are important to define. Admixing the test compounds with water or food is one suitable option in many cases, but the inhalation route is especially suitable when the administration of one or more volatile compounds is desired. One advantage of the administration of substances via the inhalation route is its rapid exchange and distribution throughout the cuticle and the tracheal system. In addition, this route allows treating a large group of individuals simultaneously. Moreover, the inhalation route is frequently used to administer different drugs to humans. A good model system shares physiology and molecular pathways with humans, and D. melanogaster possesses almost 75% homologous genes associated with human diseases. Methodologies to deliver the abovementioned substances usually include customized devices. Herein, we focus on the development of a low-cost customized device useful to deliver smoke or vaporizable compounds to D. melanogaster. This approach might be applied for acute or chronic exposure to vaporized substances. In particular, our device was utilized for testing cigarette smoke and vaporized cannabis extract on cardiac performance of adult individuals during chronic treatment. We are describing how to set up this low-cost portable device, useful for research and/or educational assays, taking advantage of the amenability of D. melanogaster to test different compounds in relatively short periods, and especially including a large number of individuals at the same time. Graphic abstract: Custom-made device useful for inhalation pathway assays in Drosophila melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Santalla
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas y Experimentales, Universidad Nacional del Noroeste (UNNOBA), Pergamino, Argentina
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares “Dr. Horacio E. Cingolani”, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas-UNLP CONICET, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Ivana M. Gómez
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares “Dr. Horacio E. Cingolani”, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas-UNLP CONICET, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Carlos A. Valverde
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares “Dr. Horacio E. Cingolani”, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas-UNLP CONICET, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Paola Ferrero
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas y Experimentales, Universidad Nacional del Noroeste (UNNOBA), Pergamino, Argentina
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares “Dr. Horacio E. Cingolani”, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas-UNLP CONICET, La Plata, Argentina
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Atkinson NS. Alcohol-induced Aggression. Neurosci Insights 2021; 16:26331055211061145. [PMID: 34841248 PMCID: PMC8611288 DOI: 10.1177/26331055211061145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraspecies aggression is commonly focused on securing reproductive resources such as food, territory, and mates, and it is often males who do the fighting. In humans, individual acts of overt physical aggression seem maladaptive and probably represent dysregulation of the pathways underlying aggression. Such acts are often associated with ethanol consumption. The Drosophila melanogaster model system, which has long been used to study how ethanol affects the nervous system and behavior, has also been used to study the molecular origins of aggression. In addition, ethanol-induced aggression has been demonstrated in flies. Recent publications show that ethanol stimulates Drosophila aggression in 2 ways: the odor of ethanol and the consumption of ethanol both make males more aggressive. These ethanol effects occur at concentrations that flies likely experience in the wild. A picture emerges of males arriving on their preferred reproductive site-fermenting plant matter-and being stimulated by ethanol to fight harder to secure the site for their own use. Fly fighting assays appear to be a suitable bioassay for studying how low doses of ethanol reshape neural signaling.
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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, USA
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