[Behavior and catecholamine levels: comparative study of gregarious insects, solitary insects, and those treated with carbon dioxide in Locusta migratoria (Insecta, Orthoptera)].
The dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) was measured in Locusta migratoria for 3 groups of individuals showing differences in their motility: gregarious are very active, solitary and animals in chronic treatment by CO2 (1 mn/day) show a very low motility. NA is present in small amounts (0,120-0,250 microng/g) in the 3 groups without significant differences. On the contrary, the quantity of DA is 5 times greater in gregarious than in the 2 other groups (1,78 and 0,31-0,39 microng/g). Thus it is suggested that DA is related to motility and must play its own role of a neurochormone, distinct from that of a metabolic intermediary between DOPA and NA. The question of a relationship between the metabolism of catecholamine and melanization is open.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012919:Social Behavior / Q000502:physiology*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine
Comportement et taux de catécholamines : étude comparative des insectes grégaires, solitaires et traités au gaz carbonique chez Locusta migratoria (Insectes, Orthoptères)