Studies on molecular mechanisms underlying the insect olfactory associative learning

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To understand the molecular basis of CS-US association, first I investigated the receptors and ionic channels expressed in Kenyon cells and second their regulation by neurotransmitter substances which convey US and CS signals. The present study mainly focused on the modulation of Na^+-activated K^+and voltage-activated Ca^<2+> channels induced by muscarinic receptor activation and its possible downstream pathway involving NOS/NO/cGMP/PKG signaling. The present results indicate that muscarinic type of M_1 receptor activation decreases the open probability(NPo) of K_<Na> channels and increases NPo of Ca^<2+> channels via the sequential activation of PLC, Ca/CAM complex and NOS/NO/cGMP/PKG signaling cascades in Kenyon cells isolated from the mushroom body of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus.