• DOI:10.1038/ng2029
• Corpus ID: 33768246

Serotonin and neuropeptide F have opposite modulatory effects on fly aggression

@article{Dierick2007SerotoninAN,
  title={Serotonin and neuropeptide F have opposite modulatory effects on fly aggression},
  author={Herman A. Dierick and Ralph J. Greenspan},
  journal={Nature Genetics},
  year={2007},
  volume={39},
  pages={678-682}
}

• H. Dierick, R. Greenspan
• Published 1 May 2007
• Biology, Psychology
• Nature Genetics

Both serotonin (5-HT) and neuropeptide Y have been shown to affect a variety of mammalian behaviors, including aggression. Here we show in Drosophila melanogaster that both 5-HT and neuropeptide F, the invertebrate homolog of neuropeptide Y, modulate aggression. We show that drug-induced increases of 5-HT in the fly brain increase aggression. Elevating 5-HT genetically in the serotonergic circuits recapitulates these pharmacological effects, whereas genetic silencing of these circuits makes the flies behaviorally unresponsive to the drug-induced increase of 5-HT but leaves them capable of aggression. Genetic silencing of the neuropeptide F (npf) circuit also increases fly aggression, demonstrating an opposite modulation to 5-HT. Moreover, this neuropeptide F effect seems to be independent of 5-HT. The implication of these two modulatory systems in fly and mouse aggression suggest a marked degree of conservation and a deep molecular root for this behavior.