Serotonergic modulation of feeding behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans and other related nematodes. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ishita, Yuuki; Chihara, Takahiro; Okumura, Misako
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience research. Volume 154(2020)
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: tph-1 -- Serotonin receptor -- Pharyngeal movement -- Pharyngeal pumping -- Peristalsis -- Environmental inputs -- Pristionchus pacificus; Neurosciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Research -- Japan -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Neurosciences -- Recherche -- Japon -- Périodiques; Neurosciences -- Research; Japan; Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2019.04.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-0102

Abstract

Highlights: The roles of serotonin in feeding behavior in C. elegans are summarized. Serotonergic neurons modulate feeding rhythms via distinct serotonin receptors. Several external cues alter the activity of serotonergic neural pathways. Serotonin also modulates feeding behavior in other divergent nematodes. Abstract: Serotonin is a conserved neuromodulator that controls feeding behavior in response to environmental inputs in a wide range of species, including the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans . To understand the detailed mechanism and evolution of serotonergic neuromodulation, the feeding behaviors of C. elegans and related species have been studied intensively because of their simple neural anatomy and genetic manipulability. C. elegans shows patterned movements of a feeding structure called the pharynx, and serotonin modulates feeding rhythms via several serotonin receptors expressed in pharyngeal motor neurons and muscles. Environmental inputs and physiological states like food signals, starvation, and heat affect the activity of serotonergic neurons and downstream neural pathways. We focus on serotonergic neural pathways in the feeding behavior of C. elegans and other nematodes, neuromodulation between environmental inputs and behavioral outputs, and their evolutionary path.