Abstract
The modulation of an animal’s behavior through external sensory stimuli, previous experience and its internal state is crucial to survive in a constantly changing environment. In most insects, octopamine (OA) and its precursor tyramine (TA) modulate a variety of physiological processes and behaviors by shifting the organism from a relaxed or dormant condition to a responsive, excited and alerted state. Even though OA/TA neurons of the central brain are described on single cell level in Drosophila melanogaster, the periphery was largely omitted from anatomical studies. Given that OA/TA is involved in behaviors like feeding, flying and locomotion, which highly depend on a variety of peripheral organs, it is necessary to study the peripheral connections of these neurons to get a complete picture of the OA/TA circuitry. We here describe the anatomy of this aminergic system in relation to peripheral tissues of the entire fly. OA/TA neurons arborize onto skeletal muscles all over the body and innervate reproductive organs, the heart, the corpora allata, and sensory organs in the antennae, legs, wings and halteres underlining their relevance in modulating complex behaviors.
Highlights
The adrenergic system of mammals influences various aspects of the animal’s life
In the ventral nervous system (VNS) all of the Tdc2-Gal4-positive cells were labeled by a TβH antibody and have to be Tdc2-positive[44]
The peripheral organs, tissues and cells are visualized by fluorescent markers for cell bodies (DAPI binds to DNA), muscles (Phalloidin binds F-actin) and antibodies against the synaptic protein Bruchpilot and the cell adhesion molecule Fasciclin 2 (Fig. 1)
Summary
The adrenergic system of mammals influences various aspects of the animal’s life. Its transmitters/hormones, adrenaline and noradrenaline, modulate a variety of physiological processes and behaviors. We found that OANs/TANs are widespread distributed throughout the fly’s body with innervations in the skeletal muscles, reproductive organs, corpora allata, antennae, legs, wings, halteres and the heart This diverse innervation pattern reflects the modulatory role of OA/TA in many different behaviors and physiological processes. For the very first time, a complete and comprehensive map of the OA/TA circuitry in the entire insect body This map allows assumptions about the type of OA/TA signaling (paracrine or endocrine) to a specific organ and, at the same time, it provides a deeper understanding to what extend the OA/ TA-dependent activity of peripheral organs is altered, for example by genetically manipulating Tdc2-Gal4-positive neurons in the brain and VNS
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
