Common regulatory mechanisms of monoamine syntheses between the brain and peripheral organs in social insects

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K07491
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Animal physiology/Animal behavior
• Research Institution: Tamagawa University
• Principal Investigator: SASAKI Ken 玉川大学, 農学部, 教授 (40387353)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 生体アミン / 社会性昆虫 / 生殖器官 / 毒腺 / 末梢器官 / 脳

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the present study, we tried to clarify a monoamine hormonal system to peripheral organs, monoamine syntheses in the peripheral organs and regulatory interactions between the brain and peripheral organ in insects. In male reproductive organs in honeybees, several types of dopamine receptor genes expressed and responded to dopamine with an increase of cAMP, suggesting a hormonal function by dopamine to peripheral organs. In females, several monoamines were detected in the poison and suggested to be synthesized by enzymes involved in monoamine syntheses in the poison glands. It was also found caste differences of monoamine levels in the poison. There were significant correlations of monoamine levels between brains and poison, suggesting common factors regulating monoamine syntheses in brains and poison glands. Thus, a hormonal system by dopamine, monoamine syntheses in poison glands, and regulatory interactions of monoamines between different organs were indicated.

Free Research Field

神経内分泌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

モノアミンによる神経系への作用については、以前から数多く研究されてきたが、体液を介した末梢器官への作用については殆ど研究がなかった。本研究はドーパミンによる昆虫の生殖器官に対するホルモン様作用を実験的に初めて証明した。また、毒腺によるモノアミン合成の過程を合成酵素遺伝子のレベルで示したことも新しい知見である。これらの知見は、他の昆虫を含めた神経・内分泌学の基礎研究に貢献するだけでなく、農業における有用昆虫や有害虫の管理にも応用し得る有用な情報である。