Title | Serotonin and neuropeptide F have opposite modulatory effects on fly aggression. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2007 |
Authors | Dierick HA, Greenspan RJ |
Journal | Nat Genet |
Volume | 39 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | 678-82 |
Date Published | 2007 May |
ISSN | 1061-4036 |
Keywords | Aggression, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Biological Evolution, Brain, Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila Proteins, Gene Silencing, Neuropeptides, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Serotonin |
Abstract | Both serotonin (5-HT) and neuropeptide Y have been shown to affect a variety of mammalian behaviors, including aggression. Here we show in Drosophila melanogaster that both 5-HT and neuropeptide F, the invertebrate homolog of neuropeptide Y, modulate aggression. We show that drug-induced increases of 5-HT in the fly brain increase aggression. Elevating 5-HT genetically in the serotonergic circuits recapitulates these pharmacological effects, whereas genetic silencing of these circuits makes the flies behaviorally unresponsive to the drug-induced increase of 5-HT but leaves them capable of aggression. Genetic silencing of the neuropeptide F (npf) circuit also increases fly aggression, demonstrating an opposite modulation to 5-HT. Moreover, this neuropeptide F effect seems to be independent of 5-HT. The implication of these two modulatory systems in fly and mouse aggression suggest a marked degree of conservation and a deep molecular root for this behavior. |
DOI | 10.1038/ng2029 |
Alternate Journal | Nat. Genet. |
PubMed ID | 17450142 |
Serotonin and neuropeptide F have opposite modulatory effects on fly aggression.
Category:
Greenspan Laboratory