FOR 1363: Biogenic Amines in Insects: Coordination of Physiological Processes and Behaviour

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Biogenic amines act as classical transmitter, as neuromodulators and neurohormones and are found in all animal species, both of vertebrates and invertebrates, including humans. Biogenic amines belong transmitters, which appear early during evolution of organisms and are used repeatedly in similar physiological contexts. In humans severe pathologies such as Parkinson or psychotic disease are caused by biogenic amines. Due to their favourable experimental accessability, insects allow to study biogenic amines at different levels: (1) at a molecular level as far as biogenic amine receptor molecules and their association with intracellular signalling pathways are concerned, (2) at a cellular level as far as the neurons are concerned, which release biogenic amines and their target tissues or target neurons, (3) at a systemic-organismic level as far as whole networks of neurons are concerned, which are influenced by biogenic amines, and (4) at a behavioural level as far as behavioural processes are concerned in which biogenic amines play a key function. The aim of the Research Unit is to bridge the different level and, thus, come to a more complete understanding of biogenic amine action.