Serotonin is critical for rewarded olfactory short-term memory in Drosophila

J Neurogenet. 2012 Jun;26(2):238-44. doi: 10.3109/01677063.2012.666298. Epub 2012 Mar 21.

Abstract

The biogenic amines dopamine, octopamine, and serotonin are critical in establishing normal memories. A common view for the amines in insect memory performance has emerged in which dopamine and octopamine are largely responsible for aversive and appetitive memories. Examination of the function of serotonin begins to challenge the notion of one amine type per memory because altering serotonin function also reduces aversive olfactory memory and place memory levels. Could the function of serotonin be restricted to the aversive domain, suggesting a more specific dopamine/serotonin system interaction? The function of the serotonergic system in appetitive olfactory memory was examined. By targeting the tetanus toxin light chain (TNT) and the human inwardly rectifying potassium channel (Kir2.1) to the serotonin neurons with two different GAL4 driver combinations, the serotonergic system was inhibited. Additional use of the GAL80(ts1) system to control expression of transgenes to the adult stage of the life cycle addressed a potential developmental role of serotonin in appetitive memory. Reduction in appetitive olfactory memory performance in flies with these transgenic manipulations, without altering control behaviors, showed that the serotonergic system is also required for normal appetitive memory. Thus, serotonin appears to have a more general role in Drosophila memory, and implies an interaction with both the dopaminergic and octopaminergic systems.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Behavior, Animal
  • CD8 Antigens / metabolism
  • Conditioning, Psychological / physiology
  • Drosophila
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Memory, Short-Term / physiology*
  • Odorants
  • Olfactory Pathways / cytology
  • Olfactory Pathways / physiology*
  • Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / genetics
  • Reward*
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / physiology
  • Serotonin / metabolism*
  • Smell / genetics*
  • Tetanus Toxin / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism

Substances

  • CD8 Antigens
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • GAL4 protein, Drosophila
  • KCNJ2 protein, human
  • Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying
  • Tetanus Toxin
  • Transcription Factors
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Serotonin
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase