Serotonin and neuropeptide F have opposite modulatory effects on fly aggression

Nat Genet. 2007 May;39(5):678-82. doi: 10.1038/ng2029. Epub 2007 Apr 22.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aggression*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / physiology
  • Gene Silencing
  • Neuropeptides / genetics
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Serotonin / genetics
  • Serotonin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Neuropeptides
  • neuropeptide F, Drosophila
  • Serotonin