NAChR‐induced octopamine release mediates the effect of nicotine on a startle response in Drosophila melanogaster. (4th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fuenzalida‐Uribe, Nicolás; Meza, Rodrigo C.; Hoffmann, Hernán A.; Varas, Rodrigo; Campusano, Jorge M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurochemistry. Volume 125:Number 2(2013:Apr.)
• Page Start: 281
• Page End: 290
• Publication Date: 2013-03-04
• Subjects: Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; 616.8042
• DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12161
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3042

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jnc12161-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Biogenic amines (BAs) play a central role in the generation of complex behaviors in vertebrates and invertebrates, including the fly <italic>Drosophila melanogaster</italic>. The comparative advantages of <italic>Drosophila</italic> as a genetic model to study the contribution of BAs to behaviors stumble upon the difficulty to access the fly brain to ask relevant physiological questions. For instance, it is not known whether the activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) induces the release of BAs in fly brain, a phenomenon associated to several behaviors in vertebrates. Here, we describe a new preparation to study the efflux of BAs in the adult fly brain by <italic>in vitro</italic> chronoamperometry. Using this preparation we show that nAChR agonists including nicotine induce a fast, transient, dose‐dependent efflux of endogenous BAs, an effect mediated by α‐bungarotoxin‐sensitive nAChRs. By using different genetic tools we demonstrate that the BA whose efflux is induced by nAChR activation is octopamine (Oct). Furthermore, we show that the impairment of a mechanically induced startle response after nicotine exposure is not observed in flies deficient in Oct transmission. Thus, our data show that the efflux of BAs in <italic>Drosophila</italic> brain is increased by nAChR activation as in vertebrates, and that then AChR‐induced Oct release could have implications in a nicotine‐induced behavioral response.</p> </abstract>