Roles of taste and biogenic amines for regulatory mechanisms of feeding behavior in Lepidopteran larvae

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25450491
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Insect science
• Research Institution: National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Asaoka Kiyoshi 国立研究開発法人農業生物資源研究所, その他部局等, 研究主幹 (80391580)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OHTA Hiroto 熊本大学, 自然科学研究科, 助教 (60450334)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 鱗翅目昆虫 / 味覚 / 生体アミン / 受容体 / 摂食行動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Analyzing speed of sucking droplets in Antheraea yamamai larvae showed that some sugars induced the feeding behavior, and an alkaloid suppressed on the other hand. The taste receptor cells to these stimulants located either on the maxillary galea or the epipharynx, and the behavior did not correlate with the location. Feeding behavior of Bombyx mori larvae by injecting biogenic amines or their related substances showed that octopamine accelerated feeding, and serotonin suppressed. Some antagonists to dopamine receptor suppressed feeding, and an agonist to D2-like dopamine receptor remarkably accelerated feeding and defecation. Additional experiments using polyphagous silkworm strains and simple sucrose diets suggested that the agonist regulated feeding behavior via the taste information processing either in the peripheral or the central nervous system.

Free Research Field

昆虫行動生理