Role of Hormones in the Control of Insect Behavior

激素在控制昆虫行为中的作用

• 批准号: 0080894
• 负责人: James Truman
• 金额: $ 33万
• 依托单位: University of Washington
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2000
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2000-10-01 至 2004-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0080894&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Role; Hormones; Control; Insect; Behavior

To shed their old skin at the end of a molt, insects display the ecdysis sequence, a complex behavioral sequence that involves at least three discrete behavioral phases. Previous work in the moth, Manduca sexta, indicated that this behavioral sequence is organized by a circuitry of neuromodulatory neurons that control the duration of each behavioral phase and the transition from one phase to the next. One of the key neuromodulators is the neuropeptide eclosion hormone (EH), that controls the transition from the first to the second behavioral phase. EH target neurons, identified by their increased levels of the intracellular messenger cyclic GMP after EH release, include the modulatory neurons that produce the peptides needed for the last two behavioral phases. Initially, electrophysiological studies will focus on these cells and determine the relationship of their activity both to EH release and to the onset of the appropriate behavioral programs. Since there are defined environmental stimuli that are known to stimulate or suppress the transition from one behavior to the next, studies will be done to determine if and where these stimuli affect the neurons in the neuromodulatory circuit. New studies on the fruitfly, Drosophila, will then genetically dissect the neuromodulatory circuit that is involved in the last two phases of the sequence.The proper functioning of the brain requires the regulated release of neuromodulators such as neuropeptides and amines. Since these modulators play a crucial role in determining behavioral states, a key to understanding behavioral organization lies in understanding how modulatory systems are organized and how behaviorally important stimuli act on them to control neuromodulator release. The ecdysis system has become a premiere system for studying the organization of neuromodulatory circuits and how they relate to complex behavior.

为了在蜕皮结束时脱落旧皮，昆虫展示了蜕皮序列，这是一个复杂的行为序列，涉及至少三个离散的行为阶段。 以前在蛾Manduca sexta中的工作表明，这种行为序列是由神经调节神经元回路组织的，这些神经元控制每个行为阶段的持续时间以及从一个阶段到下一个阶段的过渡。 其中一个关键的神经调质是神经肽羽化激素（EH），它控制着从第一行为阶段到第二行为阶段的过渡。 EH靶神经元通过EH释放后细胞内信使环GMP水平的增加来鉴定，包括产生最后两个行为阶段所需的肽的调节神经元。 最初，电生理学研究将集中在这些细胞，并确定其活动的关系，既EH的释放和适当的行为程序的开始。 由于存在已知刺激或抑制从一种行为到下一种行为的转变的定义的环境刺激，因此将进行研究以确定这些刺激是否以及在何处影响神经调节回路中的神经元。 对果蝇的最新研究将从基因上剖析参与这一序列最后两个阶段的神经调节回路。大脑的正常运作需要神经调节剂（如神经肽和胺）的调节释放。 由于这些调节剂在决定行为状态中起着至关重要的作用，理解行为组织的关键在于理解调节系统是如何组织的，以及行为上重要的刺激如何作用于它们以控制神经调节剂的释放。 蜕皮系统已经成为研究神经调节回路的组织以及它们如何与复杂行为相关的首要系统。