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Su S, Giurfa M. Response to comment on "Food Wanting is Mediated by Transient Activation of Dopaminergic Signaling in the Honeybee Brain". Science 2023; 381:eadg6207. [PMID: 37535721 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg6207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
In a technical comment, Barron et al. (1) criticized the work of Huang et al. (2) putting the accent on the quantification of dopamine levels via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), yet also including data interpretation through alternative hypotheses aimed at invalidating the original ones proposed by Huang et al. We thank the authors of this technical comment, which allows us to clarify technical aspects of our work that may have been unclear, and for promoting discussion around the conclusions of our work. Below we provide answers to the points raised in their comment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songkun Su
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Martin Giurfa
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), University of Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31062 Toulouse cedex 9, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
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2
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Magliaro C, Ahluwalia A. Biomedical Research on Substances of Abuse: The Italian Case Study. Altern Lab Anim 2022; 50:423-436. [PMID: 36222242 DOI: 10.1177/02611929221132215] [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: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Substances of abuse have the potential to cause addiction, habituation or altered consciousness. Most of the research on these substances focuses on addiction, and is carried out through observational and clinical studies on humans, or experimental studies on animals. The transposition of the EU Directive 2010/63 into Italian law in 2014 (IT Law 2014/26) includes a ban on the use of animals for research on substances of abuse. Since then, in Italy, public debate has continued on the topic, while the application of the Article prohibiting animal research in this area has been postponed every couple of years. In the light of this debate, we briefly review a range of methodologies - including animal and non-animal, as well as patient or population-based studies - that have been employed to address the biochemical, neurobiological, toxicological, clinical and behavioural effects of substances of abuse and their dependency. We then discuss the implications of the Italian ban on the use of animals for such research, proposing concrete and evidence-based solutions to allow scientists to pursue high-quality basic and translational studies within the boundaries of the regulatory and legislative framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Magliaro
- Research Centre 'E. Piaggio', 9310University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Information Engineering, 9310University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Interuniversity Centre for the Promotion of 3R Principles in Teaching and Research (Centro 3R), Pisa, Italy
| | - Arti Ahluwalia
- Research Centre 'E. Piaggio', 9310University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Information Engineering, 9310University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Interuniversity Centre for the Promotion of 3R Principles in Teaching and Research (Centro 3R), Pisa, Italy
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3
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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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4
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Abati R, Sampaio AR, Maciel RMA, Colombo FC, Libardoni G, Battisti L, Lozano ER, Ghisi NDC, Costa-Maia FM, Potrich M. Bees and pesticides: the research impact and scientometrics relations. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:10.1007/s11356-021-14224-7. [PMID: 33961189 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14224-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bees are fundamental insects in agroecosystems, mainly due to pollination. However, its decline has been observed in recent years, and the contamination by pesticides is suspected to be responsible. This relationship is the objective of our research, which is the first scientometric study on this subject. The data were obtained from the Web of Science database (1231) and were analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel and CiteSpace. The results point to a significant increase in pesticide and bee reseach in the last 15 years in the most influential scientific journals. The USA and France have the largest number of publications and a moderade relationship between this trait and GDP (gross domestic product) was observed (r = 0.80; r2 = 0.60). There is no correlation between the use of pesticides and studies of the effects on pollinators and the use of pesticides and the countries' GDP. In general, studies have shown the negative effects of the contamination by pesticides on bees; however, most publications are with bees of the Apis genus, and therefore it is necessary to explore the action of pesticides on bumble bees and wild bees, as well furthur as studies are needed regarding the sublethal effects of these products on bees as the number of molecules used in the management of agricultural crops is vast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raiza Abati
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agroecossistemas, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Dois Vizinhos, Estrada para Boa Esperança, Km 04 CEP, 85660-000, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Amanda Roberta Sampaio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agroecossistemas, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Dois Vizinhos, Estrada para Boa Esperança, Km 04 CEP, 85660-000, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Mendes Antunes Maciel
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Avenida Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 100, Centro Politécnico - Jardim das Américas, Cx, 1903, CEP 81531-980, Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Fernanda Caroline Colombo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445 Km 380, Câmpus Universitário Cx, 10.011, CEP 86.057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Gabriela Libardoni
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445 Km 380, Câmpus Universitário Cx, 10.011, CEP 86.057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Lucas Battisti
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445 Km 380, Câmpus Universitário Cx, 10.011, CEP 86.057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Everton Ricardi Lozano
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agroecossistemas, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Dois Vizinhos, Estrada para Boa Esperança, Km 04 CEP, 85660-000, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Nédia de Castilhos Ghisi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Dois Vizinhos, Estrada para Boa Esperança, Km 04, CEP 85660-000, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Fabiana Martins Costa-Maia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zootecnia, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Dois Vizinhos, Estrada para Boa Esperança, Km 04, CEP 85660-000, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Michele Potrich
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agroecossistemas, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Dois Vizinhos, Estrada para Boa Esperança, Km 04 CEP, 85660-000, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brasil.
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5
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Ramesh D, Brockmann A. Mass Spectrometric Quantification of Arousal Associated Neurochemical Changes in Single Honey Bee Brains and Brain Regions. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:1950-1959. [PMID: 30346719 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bee foragers show a strong diurnal rhythm of foraging activity, and such behavioral changes are likely under the control of specific neuromodulators. To identify and quantify neuromodulators involved in regulating rest and arousal in honey bees, we established a mass spectrometric method for quantifying 14 different neurochemicals and precursor molecules. We measured forager type and brain region specific differences in amine levels from individual honey bee brains and brain regions. The observed differences in amine levels between resting and aroused foragers resemble findings in other species indicating a conserved molecular mechanism by glutamate and GABA in regulating arousal. Subesophageal ganglion specific changes in the histaminergic system and global increases in aspartate during arousal suggest a possible role of histamine and aspartate in feeding and arousal, respectively. More aminergic systems were significantly affected due to arousal in nectar foragers than in pollen foragers, implying that forager phenotypes differ not only in their food preference but also in their neuromodulatory signaling systems (brain states). Finally, we found that neurotransmitter precursors were better at distinguishing brain states in the central brain, while their end products correlated with arousal associated changes in sensory regions like the optic and antennal lobes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Ramesh
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore 560065 Karnataka, India
| | - Axel Brockmann
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore 560065 Karnataka, India
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6
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Hewlett SE, Delahunt Smoleniec JD, Wareham DM, Pyne TM, Barron AB. Biogenic amine modulation of honey bee sociability and nestmate affiliation. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205686. [PMID: 30359390 PMCID: PMC6201892 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Biogenic amines modulate a range of social behaviours, including sociability and mechanisms of group cohesion, in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Here, we tested if the biogenic amines modulate honey bee (Apis mellifera) sociability and nestmate affiliation. We examined the consequences of treatments with biogenic amines, agonists and antagonists on a bee’s approach to, and subsequent social interactions with, conspecifics in both naturally hive-reared bees and isolated bees. We used two different treatment methods. Bees were first treated topically with compounds dissolved in the solvent dimethylformamide (dMF) applied to the dorsal thorax, but dMF had a significant effect on the locomotion and behaviour of the bees during the behavioural test that interfered with their social responses. Our second method used microinjection to deliver biogenic amines to the head capsule via the ocellar tract. Microinjection of dopamine and a dopamine antagonist had strong effects on bee sociability, likelihood of interaction with bees, and nestmate affiliation. Octopamine treatment reduced social interaction with other bees, and serotonin increased the likelihood of social interactions. HPLC measurements showed that isolation reduced brain levels of biogenic amines compared to hive-reared bees. Our findings suggest that dopamine is an important neurochemical component of social motivation in bees. This finding advances a comparative understanding of the processes of social evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susie E. Hewlett
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail: (SH); (AB)
| | | | - Deborah M. Wareham
- Department of Health Professions, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thomas M. Pyne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew B. Barron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail: (SH); (AB)
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7
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Bordier C, Klein S, Le Conte Y, Barron AB, Alaux C. Stress decreases pollen foraging performance in honeybees. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.171470. [PMID: 29361592 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.171470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Foraging in honeybees is energetically demanding. Here, we examined whether stressors, which generally increase metabolic demands, can impair foraging performance. A controlled non-pathogenic stressor (immune challenge) resulted in a change in the foraging preferences of bees. It reduced pollen foraging and increased the duration of trips in pollen foragers. Stress also reduced the amount of octopamine in the brain of pollen foragers (a biogenic amine involved in the regulation of foraging and flight behaviour in insects). According to the literature, flight metabolic rate is higher during pollen foraging than during nectar foraging, and nectar gives a higher energetic return relative to the foraging effort when compared with pollen. We thus propose that stress might be particularly detrimental to the performance of pollen foragers, and stressed bees prefer the energy-rich resource of nectar. In conclusion, stress, even at low levels, could have consequences for bee foraging behaviour and thereby the nutritional balance of the colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Bordier
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84914 Avignon, France
| | - Simon Klein
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), University Paul Sabatier (UPS), 31062 Toulouse, France.,Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84914 Avignon, France
| | - Andrew B Barron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Cédric Alaux
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84914 Avignon, France
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8
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Søvik E, Berthier P, Klare WP, Helliwell P, Buckle ELS, Plath JA, Barron AB, Maleszka R. Cocaine Directly Impairs Memory Extinction and Alters Brain DNA Methylation Dynamics in Honey Bees. Front Physiol 2018; 9:79. [PMID: 29487536 PMCID: PMC5816933 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing behavioral disorder. The high relapse rate has often been attributed to the perseverance of drug-associated memories due to high incentive salience of stimuli learnt under the influence of drugs. Drug addiction has also been interpreted as a memory disorder since drug associated memories are unusually enduring and some drugs, such as cocaine, interfere with neuroepigenetic machinery known to be involved in memory processing. Here we used the honey bee (an established invertebrate model for epigenomics and behavioral studies) to examine whether or not cocaine affects memory processing independently of its effect on incentive salience. Using the proboscis extension reflex training paradigm we found that cocaine strongly impairs consolidation of extinction memory. Based on correlation between the observed effect of cocaine on learning and expression of epigenetic processes, we propose that cocaine interferes with memory processing independently of incentive salience by directly altering DNA methylation dynamics. Our findings emphasize the impact of cocaine on memory systems, with relevance for understanding how cocaine can have such an enduring impact on behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirik Søvik
- Department of Science and Mathematics, Volda University College, Volda, Norway
| | - Pauline Berthier
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - William P Klare
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul Helliwell
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Edwina L S Buckle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jenny A Plath
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew B Barron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ryszard Maleszka
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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9
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Scheiner R, Entler BV, Barron AB, Scholl C, Thamm M. The Effects of Fat Body Tyramine Level on Gustatory Responsiveness of Honeybees ( Apis mellifera) Differ between Behavioral Castes. Front Syst Neurosci 2017; 11:55. [PMID: 28848405 PMCID: PMC5550709 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2017.00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Division of labor is a hallmark of social insects. In the honeybee (Apis mellifera) each sterile female worker performs a series of social tasks. The most drastic changes in behavior occur when a nurse bee, who takes care of the brood and the queen in the hive, transitions to foraging behavior. Foragers provision the colony with pollen, nectar or water. Nurse bees and foragers differ in numerous behaviors, including responsiveness to gustatory stimuli. Differences in gustatory responsiveness, in turn, might be involved in regulating division of labor through differential sensory response thresholds. Biogenic amines are important modulators of behavior. Tyramine and octopamine have been shown to increase gustatory responsiveness in honeybees when injected into the thorax, thereby possibly triggering social organization. So far, most of the experiments investigating the role of amines on gustatory responsiveness have focused on the brain. The potential role of the fat body in regulating sensory responsiveness and division of labor has large been neglected. We here investigated the role of the fat body in modulating gustatory responsiveness through tyramine signaling in different social roles of honeybees. We quantified levels of tyramine, tyramine receptor gene expression and the effect of elevating fat body tyramine titers on gustatory responsiveness in both nurse bees and foragers. Our data suggest that elevating the tyramine titer in the fat body pharmacologically increases gustatory responsiveness in foragers, but not in nurse bees. This differential effect of tyramine on gustatory responsiveness correlates with a higher natural gustatory responsiveness of foragers, with a higher tyramine receptor (Amtar1) mRNA expression in fat bodies of foragers and with lower baseline tyramine titers in fat bodies of foragers compared to those of nurse bees. We suggest that differential tyramine signaling in the fat body has an important role in the plasticity of division of labor through changing gustatory responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricarda Scheiner
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biocenter, University of WürzburgWürzburg, Germany
| | - Brian V Entler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew B Barron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Christina Scholl
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biocenter, University of WürzburgWürzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Thamm
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biocenter, University of WürzburgWürzburg, Germany
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10
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Søvik E, LaMora A, Seehra G, Barron AB, Duncan JG, Ben-Shahar Y. Drosophila divalent metal ion transporter Malvolio is required in dopaminergic neurons for feeding decisions. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2017; 16:506-514. [PMID: 28220999 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Members of the natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) family are evolutionarily conserved metal ion transporters that play an essential role in regulating intracellular divalent cation homeostasis in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Malvolio (Mvl), the sole NRAMP family member in insects, plays a role in food choice behaviors in Drosophila and other species. However, the specific physiological and cellular processes that require the action of Mvl for appropriate feeding decisions remain elusive. Here, we show that normal food choice requires Mvl function specifically in the dopaminergic system, and can be rescued by supplementing food with manganese. Collectively, our data indicate that the action of the Mvl transporter affects food choice behavior via the regulation of dopaminergic innervation of the mushroom bodies, a principle brain region associated with decision-making in insects. Our studies suggest that the homeostatic regulation of the intraneuronal levels of divalent cations plays an important role in the development and function of the dopaminergic system and associated behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Søvik
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Science and Mathematics, Volda University College, Volda, Norway
| | - A LaMora
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - G Seehra
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - A B Barron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - J G Duncan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Y Ben-Shahar
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
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11
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Scheiner R, Reim T, Søvik E, Entler BV, Barron AB, Thamm M. Learning, gustatory responsiveness and tyramine differences across nurse and forager honeybees. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:1443-1450. [PMID: 28167800 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.152496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Honeybees are well known for their complex division of labor. Each bee sequentially performs a series of social tasks during its life. The changes in social task performance are linked to gross differences in behavior and physiology. We tested whether honeybees performing different social tasks (nursing versus foraging) would differ in their gustatory responsiveness and associative learning behavior in addition to their daily tasks in the colony. Further, we investigated the role of the biogenic amine tyramine and its receptors in the behavior of nurse bees and foragers. Tyramine is an important insect neurotransmitter, which has long been neglected in behavioral studies as it was believed to only act as the metabolic precursor of the better-known amine octopamine. With the increasing number of characterized tyramine receptors in diverse insects, we need to understand the functions of tyramine on its own account. Our findings suggest an important role for tyramine and its two receptors in regulating honeybee gustatory responsiveness, social organization and learning behavior. Foragers, which were more responsive to gustatory stimuli than nurse bees and performed better in appetitive learning, also differed from nurse bees in their tyramine brain titers and in the mRNA expression of a tyramine receptor in the brain. Pharmacological activation of tyramine receptors increased gustatory responsiveness of nurse bees and foragers and improved appetitive learning in nurse bees. These data suggest that a large part of the behavioral differences between honeybees may be directly linked to tyramine signaling in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricarda Scheiner
- University of Würzburg, Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology, Biocenter, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany .,University of Potsdam, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam 14476, Germany
| | - Tina Reim
- University of Potsdam, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam 14476, Germany
| | - Eirik Søvik
- Macquarie University, Department of Biological Sciences, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.,Volda University College, Department of Science and Mathematics, Volda 6100, Norway
| | - Brian V Entler
- Macquarie University, Department of Biological Sciences, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Andrew B Barron
- Macquarie University, Department of Biological Sciences, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Markus Thamm
- University of Würzburg, Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology, Biocenter, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
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12
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Søvik E, Plath JA, Devaud JM, Barron AB. Neuropharmacological Manipulation of Restrained and Free-flying Honey Bees, Apis mellifera. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 27929455 DOI: 10.3791/54695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees demonstrate astonishing learning abilities and advanced social behavior and communication. In addition, their brain is small, easy to visualize and to study. Therefore, bees have long been a favored model amongst neurobiologists and neuroethologists for studying the neural basis of social and natural behavior. It is important, however, that the experimental techniques used to study bees do not interfere with the behaviors being studied. Because of this, it has been necessary to develop a range of techniques for pharmacological manipulation of honey bees. In this paper we demonstrate methods for treating restrained or free-flying honey bees with a wide range of pharmacological agents. These include both noninvasive methods such as oral and topical treatments, as well as more invasive methods that allow for precise drug delivery in either systemic or localized fashion. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method and describe common hurdles and how to best overcome them. We conclude with a discussion on the importance of adapting the experimental method to the biological questions rather than the other way around.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirik Søvik
- Department of Science and Mathematics, Volda University College; Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis;
| | - Jenny A Plath
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz
| | - Jean-Marc Devaud
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, CNRS, Universite de Toulouse
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13
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Entler BV, Cannon JT, Seid MA. Morphine addiction in ants: a new model for self-administration and neurochemical analysis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 219:2865-2869. [PMID: 27655824 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.140616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Conventional definitions of drug addiction are focused on characterizing the neurophysiological and behavioral responses of mammals. Although mammalian models have been invaluable in studying specific and complex aspects of addiction, invertebrate systems have proven advantageous in investigating how drugs of abuse corrupt the most basic motivational and neurochemical systems. It has recently been shown that invertebrates and mammals have remarkable similarities in their behavioral and neurochemical responses to drugs of abuse. However, until now only mammals have demonstrated drug seeking and self-administration without the concurrent presence of a natural reward, e.g. sucrose. Using a sucrose-fading paradigm, followed by a two-dish choice test, we establish ants as an invertebrate model of opioid addiction. The ant species Camponotus floridanus actively seeks and self-administers morphine even in the absence of caloric value or additional natural reward. Using HPLC equipped with electrochemical detection, the neurochemicals serotonin, octopamine and dopamine were identified and subsequently quantified, establishing the concurrent neurochemical response to the opioid morphine within the invertebrate brain. With this study, we demonstrate dopamine to be governing opioid addiction in the brains of ants. Thus, this study establishes ants as the first non-mammalian model of self-administration that is truly analogous to mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian V Entler
- Biology Department, Neuroscience Program, The University of Scranton, 800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510, USA Chemistry Department, The University of Scranton, 800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510, USA
| | - J Timothy Cannon
- Biology Department, Neuroscience Program, The University of Scranton, 800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510, USA Psychology Department, The University of Scranton, 800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510, USA
| | - Marc A Seid
- Biology Department, Neuroscience Program, The University of Scranton, 800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510, USA
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14
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Physiology of reproductive worker honey bees (Apis mellifera): insights for the development of the worker caste. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2015; 202:147-58. [PMID: 26715114 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-015-1061-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Reproductive and behavioural specialisations characterise advanced social insect societies. Typically, the honey bee (Apis mellifera) shows a pronounced reproductive division of labour between worker and queen castes, and a clear division of colony roles among workers. In a queenless condition, however, both of these aspects of social organisation break down. Queenless workers reproduce, forage and maintain their colony operating in a manner similar to communal bees, rather than as an advanced eusocial group. This plasticity in social organisation provides a natural experiment for exploring physiological mechanisms of division of labour. We measured brain biogenic amine (BA) levels and abdominal fat body vitellogenin gene expression levels of workers in queenright and queenless colonies. Age, ovary activation and social environment influenced brain BA levels in honey bees. BA levels were most influenced by ovary activation state in queenless bees. Vitellogenin expression levels were higher in queenless workers than queenright workers, but in both colony environments vitellogenin expression was lower in foragers than non-foragers. We propose this plasticity in the interacting signalling systems that influence both reproductive and behavioural development allows queenless workers to deviate significantly from the typical worker bee reaction norm and develop as reproductively active behavioural generalists.
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15
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Søvik E, Perry CJ, LaMora A, Barron AB, Ben-Shahar Y. Negative impact of manganese on honeybee foraging. Biol Lett 2015; 11:rsbl.2014.0989. [PMID: 25808001 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic accumulation of metals such as manganese is a well-established health risk factor for vertebrates. By contrast, the long-term impact of these contaminants on invertebrates is mostly unknown. Here, we demonstrate that manganese ingestion alters brain biogenic amine levels in honeybees and fruit flies. Furthermore, we show that manganese exposure negatively affects foraging behaviour in the honeybee, an economically important pollinator. Our findings indicate that in addition to its direct impact on human health, the common industrial contaminant manganese might also have indirect environmental and economical impacts via the modulation of neuronal and behavioural functions in economically important insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirik Søvik
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130, USA Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2122, Australia
| | - Clint J Perry
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2122, Australia
| | - Angie LaMora
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Andrew B Barron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2122, Australia
| | - Yehuda Ben-Shahar
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130, USA
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16
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Søvik E, Even N, Radford CW, Barron AB. Cocaine affects foraging behaviour and biogenic amine modulated behavioural reflexes in honey bees. PeerJ 2014; 2:e662. [PMID: 25405075 PMCID: PMC4232840 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans and other mammals, drugs of abuse alter the function of biogenic amine pathways in the brain leading to the subjective experience of reward and euphoria. Biogenic amine pathways are involved in reward processing across diverse animal phyla, however whether cocaine acts on these neurochemical pathways to cause similar rewarding behavioural effects in animal phyla other than mammals is unclear. Previously, it has been shown that bees are more likely to dance (a signal of perceived reward) when returning from a sucrose feeder after cocaine treatment. Here we examined more broadly whether cocaine altered reward-related behaviour, and biogenic amine modulated behavioural responses in bees. Bees developed a preference for locations at which they received cocaine, and when foraging at low quality sucrose feeders increase their foraging rate in response to cocaine treatment. Cocaine also increased reflexive proboscis extension to sucrose, and sting extension to electric shock. Both of these simple reflexes are modulated by biogenic amines. This shows that systemic cocaine treatment alters behavioural responses that are modulated by biogenic amines in insects. Since insect reward responses involve both octopamine and dopamine signalling, we conclude that cocaine treatment altered diverse reward-related aspects of behaviour in bees. We discuss the implications of these results for understanding the ecology of cocaine as a plant defence compound. Our findings further validate the honey bee as a model system for understanding the behavioural impacts of cocaine, and potentially other drugs of abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirik Søvik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia ; Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis , USA
| | - Naïla Even
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia
| | - Catherine W Radford
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia
| | - Andrew B Barron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia
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17
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Scheiner R, Toteva A, Reim T, Søvik E, Barron AB. Differences in the phototaxis of pollen and nectar foraging honey bees are related to their octopamine brain titers. Front Physiol 2014; 5:116. [PMID: 24734024 PMCID: PMC3975121 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The biogenic amine octopamine is an important neuromodulator, neurohormone and neurotransmitter in insects. We here investigate the role of octopamine signaling in honey bee phototaxis. Our results show that groups of bees differ naturally in their phototaxis. Pollen forgers display a lower light responsiveness than nectar foragers. The lower phototaxis of pollen foragers coincides with higher octopamine titers in the optic lobes but is independent of octopamine receptor gene expression. Increasing octopamine brain titers reduces responsiveness to light, while tyramine application enhances phototaxis. These findings suggest an involvement of octopamine signaling in honey bee phototaxis and possibly division of labor, which is hypothesized to be based on individual differences in sensory responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricarda Scheiner
- Department of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam Potsdam, Germany
| | - Anna Toteva
- Department of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam Potsdam, Germany
| | - Tina Reim
- Department of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam Potsdam, Germany
| | - Eirik Søvik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew B Barron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Sydney, NSW, Australia
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