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Updated: May 15, 2025

The Use of Pharmacological-challenge fMRI in Pre-clinical Research: Application to the 5-HT System
Published on: April 25, 2012
Pharmacological characterization and functional roles of the 5-HT7 receptor for pheromone sensitivity and mating in
Huixin Wang1, Mengdan Zhang1, Xiaoyan Gao1
1Henan International Joint Laboratory of Green Pest Control, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Background:
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is an important biogenic amine in insects, which regulates and controls many important physiological and behavioral processes by binding to different G protein-coupled receptors. The physiological functions of 5-HT and its receptors in olfactory learning and memory, courtship, and mating behaviors, have been reported in the model insect Drosophila melanogaster. However, little is known about the molecular properties, pharmacological characterization, and physiological functions of 5-HT receptors in the important agricultural pest Helicoverpa armigera.
Results:
In this study, 5-HT7 receptor gene was identified for the first time in H. armigera. Bioinformatics analysis showed that H. armigera 5-HT7 shared a higher homology with 5-HT7 from Spodoptera litura and Mythimna separata. The expression profile showed that Harm5-HT7 receptor gene is highly expressed in the larval and adult developmental stages, and is mainly expressed in the gut of the larva, and is male-biased expressed in antennae and labial palps. Moreover, we investigated the pharmacological characterization of Harm5-HT7 receptor, 5-HT could activate the Harm5-HT7 receptor and increase the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in a dose-dependent manner [half maximal effective concentration (EC50) = 0.54 μM]. In addition, we investigated the function of Harm5-HT7 through in vivo pharmacological and RNA interference methodology. The results showed that interference of Harm5-HT7 signaling pathway caused defects in pheromone sensitivity and mating behavior of male H. armigera.
Conclusion:
Our results provide the first comprehensive understanding of the pharmacological characterization and functional roles of the Harm5-HT7 receptor in olfactory sensitivity and mating behavior of male H. armigera. Our findings may facilitate the identification of potential target genes or chemical compounds for application in the mating disruption control of H. armigera. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
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