title: AKH-producing neuroendocrine cell ablation decreases trehalose and induces behavioral changes in Drosophila.
abstract: Adipokinetic hormone (AKH) is a metabolic neuropeptide principally known for its mobilization of energy substrates, notably lipid and trehalose during energy-requiring activities, such as flight and locomotion. Drosophila melanogaster AKH cell localization in corpora cardiaca, as in other insect species, was confirmed by immunoreactivity and by a genetic approach using the UAS/GAL4 system. To assess AKH general physiological rules, we ablated AKH endocrine cells by specifically driving the expression of apoptosis transgenes in AKH cells. Trehalose levels were decreased in larvae and starved adults, when the stimulation by AKH of the production of trehalose from fat body glycogen is no longer possible. Moreover, we show that these adults without AKH cells become progressively hypoactive. Finally, under starvation conditions, those hypoactive AKH-knockout cell flies survived approximately 50% longer than control wild-type flies, suggesting that the slower rate at which AKH-ablated flies mobilize their energy resources extends their survival.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neuroendocrinologie des Insectes, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5106 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Université Bordeaux I Avenue des Facultés, Talence, Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Isabel
authors.forename: Jean-René
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chidami
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Veenstra
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013997:Time Factors; D014199:Trehalose / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007301:Insect Hormones; D009842:Oligopeptides; C044833:adipokinetic hormone; D014199:Trehalose; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid