A subset of octopaminergic neurons are important for Drosophila aggression.
Aggression is an innate behavior that is important for animal survival and evolution. We examined the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying aggression in Drosophila. Reduction of the neurotransmitter octopamine, the insect equivalent of norepinephrine, decreased aggression in both males and females. Mutants lacking octopamine did not initiate fighting and did not fight other flies, although they still provoked other flies to fight themselves. Mutant males lost to the wild-type males in fighting and in competing for copulation with females. Enhanced octopaminergic signaling increased aggression in socially grouped flies, but not in socially isolated flies. We carried out genetic rescue experiments that revealed the functional importance of neuronal octopamine and identified a small subset of octopaminergic neurons in the suboesophageal ganglion as being important for aggression.
Zhou
Chuan
C
National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 7 Zhongguanchun Life Sciences Park, Beijing 102206, China.
Rao
Yong
Y
Rao
Yi
Y
D000374:Aggression; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002742:Chlorphenamidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004330:Drosophila / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009655:Octopamine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012919:Social Behavior
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D009655:Octopamine; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; C023205:tyramine beta-hydroxylase; D002742:Chlorphenamidine