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A New Approach that Eliminates Handling for Studying Aggression and the "Loser" Effect in Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: December 30, 2015
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Single serotonergic neurons that modulate aggression in Drosophila
Olga V Alekseyenko1, Yick-Bun Chan1, Maria de la Paz Fernandez2
1Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Current Biology : CB
|December 3, 2014
Summary
Serotonin (5HT) neurons in fruit flies control aggression. Specific PLP neurons activate aggression, while downstream 5HT1A receptor neurons inhibit it, revealing a regulatory circuit.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Genetics
- Insect Models
Background:
- Serotonin (5HT) is implicated in aggression across species.
- Monoaminergic neurons regulate diverse behaviors, complicating aggression pathway studies.
- Drosophila melanogaster serves as a model to dissect neural circuits controlling aggression.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify specific serotonergic neurons modulating aggression in Drosophila.
- Elucidate the downstream targets and function of aggression-controlling serotonergic circuits.
- Investigate the role of 5HT1A receptors in serotonin-mediated aggression regulation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized intersectional genetics to target specific serotonergic neuron populations.
- Manipulated serotonergic PLP (prothoracic leg pathway) neuron activity to assess effects on aggression.
- Employed GFP reconstitution across synaptic partners (GRASP) to map neuronal connections.
- Activated 5HT1A receptor-expressing neurons to determine their role in aggression.
Main Results:
- A specific pair of serotonergic PLP neurons were identified as necessary for aggression escalation.
- Silencing PLP neurons decreased male fly aggression; activating them increased aggression.
- 5HT-PLP neurons synapse with 5HT1A receptor-expressing neurons in distinct brain regions.
- Activation of 5HT1A receptor neurons reduced aggression, suggesting an inhibitory role.
Conclusions:
- Serotonergic PLP neurons play a crucial role in promoting aggression.
- Aggression is regulated by an inhibitory circuit involving 5HT1A receptor-expressing neurons.
- Activation of 5HT-PLP neurons releases this inhibition, potentially increasing aggression levels.
