Abstract
Octopuses are unique invertebrates, with sophisticated and flexible behaviors controlled by a high degree of brain plasticity, learning, and memory. Moreover, in Octopus vulgaris, it has been demonstrated that animals housed in an enriched environment show adult neurogenesis in specific brain areas. Firstly, we evaluated the optimal acclimatization period needed for an O. vulgaris before starting a cognitive stimulation experiment. Subsequently, we analyzed differential gene expression in specific brain areas in adult animals kept in tested (enriched environment), wild (naturally enriched environment), and control conditions (unenriched environment). We selected and sequenced three protocadherin genes (PCDHs) involved in the development and maintenance of the nervous system; three Pax genes that control cell specification and tissue differentiation; the Elav gene, an earliest marker for neural cells; and the Zic1 gene, involved in early neural formation in the brain. In this paper, we evaluated gene expression levels in O. vulgaris under different cognitive stimulations. Our data shows that Oct-PCDHs genes are upregulated in the learning and lower motor centers in the brain of both tested and wild animals (higher in the latter). Combining these results with our previous studies on O. vulgaris neurogenesis, we proposed that PCDH genes may be involved in adult neurogenesis processes, and related with their cognitive abilities.
Highlights
Octopuses have considerable skills that show them as “intelligent” animals
It has been observed that Octopus vulgaris cognition and learning abilities are linked to adult neurogenesis [10]: Animals housed in an enriched environment increase adult neurogenesis, using Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) as a marker of cell proliferation and a cytoplasmic isoform of poli (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) as a marker of neuronal plasticity [10,11]
In wild and tested animals, we found upregulation for Oct-protocadherin genes (PCDHs), Oct-pax6, Oct-elav, and Oct-zic1 genes, suggesting that these genes are related to sensory integration that is strictly connected to the increase of the neuronal structure at adult neurogenesis as previously found in this area [10,12]
Summary
Octopuses have considerable skills that show them as “intelligent” animals. They express high flexibility in solving demanding problems, and they have been observed using objects as tools.Octopuses learn very fast when faced with artificial tasks [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9].Recently, it has been observed that Octopus vulgaris cognition and learning abilities are linked to adult neurogenesis [10]: Animals housed in an enriched environment increase adult neurogenesis, using Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) as a marker of cell proliferation and a cytoplasmic isoform of poli (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) as a marker of neuronal plasticity [10,11]. Octopuses have considerable skills that show them as “intelligent” animals. They express high flexibility in solving demanding problems, and they have been observed using objects as tools. Octopuses learn very fast when faced with artificial tasks [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. Octopuses, subjected to problem-solving tasks, revealed an increment of cell proliferation in supraesophageal mass, in particular in the vertical-frontal system and the optic–olfactory lobes, brain areas involved in learning memory, and sensory stimuli integration, respectively [10]. Bivariant analysis of flow cytometry using BrdU incorporation allowed assessment of the magnitude of adult neurogenesis in those brain lobes, previously identified, characterized by the presence of adult neurogenesis niches, Biology 2020, 9, 196; doi:10.3390/biology9080196 www.mdpi.com/journal/biology
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