Circling behavior in honey bees.
Unilateral microinjections of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acetylcholine (ACh) and related substances into central parts of the brain of the honey bee elicit a quantifiable circling behavior. GABA (40 nl, 10(-2) M, muscimol (40 nl, 10(-4) M) and flaxedil (10(-3) M, 40 nl) induce contralateral circling whilst ACh (40 nl, 10(-2) M), nicotine (40 nl, 10(-4) M) and picrotoxin (40 nl, 10(-3) M) induce ipsilateral circling if injected in the proximity of the alpha-lobe (50-100 microns) of the of the mushroom body. Mechanical lesions of the pedunculus induce ipsilateral circling. This can be reversed by ipsilateral injections of GABA and flaxedil. Intracellular recordings demonstrate a hyperpolarizing effect of GABA and a depolarising effect of ACh on individual neurons in this region. These results suggest that circling behavior in the bee is controlled by the balance of GABA in the alpha-lobes and mediated by acetylcholinergic neurons.
Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Tierphysiologie (Neurobiologie), F.R.G.
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Michelsen
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Braun
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D005703:Gallamine Triethiodide / Q000494:pharmacology; D009118:Muscimol / Q000494:pharmacology; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000109:Acetylcholine; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D005703:Gallamine Triethiodide; D009118:Muscimol; D010852:Picrotoxin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid