Molecular biology of serotonergic systems in avian brains
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a phylogenetically conserved neurotransmitter and modulator. Neurons utilizing serotonin have been identified in the central nervous systems of all vertebrates. In the central serotonergic system of vertebrate species examined so far, serotonergic neurons hav...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2023.1226645/full |
| _version_ | 1827898535937310720 |
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| author | Toshiyuki Fujita Naoya Aoki Chihiro Mori Koichi J. Homma Shinji Yamaguchi |
| author_facet | Toshiyuki Fujita Naoya Aoki Chihiro Mori Koichi J. Homma Shinji Yamaguchi |
| author_sort | Toshiyuki Fujita |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a phylogenetically conserved neurotransmitter and modulator. Neurons utilizing serotonin have been identified in the central nervous systems of all vertebrates. In the central serotonergic system of vertebrate species examined so far, serotonergic neurons have been confirmed to exist in clusters in the brainstem. Although many serotonin-regulated cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functions have been elucidated in mammals, equivalents remain poorly understood in non-mammalian vertebrates. The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge of the anatomical organization and molecular features of the avian central serotonergic system. In addition, selected key functions of serotonin are briefly reviewed. Gene association studies between serotonergic system related genes and behaviors in birds have elucidated that the serotonergic system is involved in the regulation of behavior in birds similar to that observed in mammals. The widespread distribution of serotonergic modulation in the central nervous system and the evolutionary conservation of the serotonergic system provide a strong foundation for understanding and comparing the evolutionary continuity of neural circuits controlling corresponding brain functions within vertebrates. The main focus of this review is the chicken brain, with this type of poultry used as a model bird. The chicken is widely used not only as a model for answering questions in developmental biology and as a model for agriculturally useful breeding, but also in research relating to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional processes. In addition to a wealth of prior research on the projection relationships of avian brain regions, detailed subdivision similarities between avian and mammalian brains have recently been identified. Therefore, identifying the neural circuits modulated by the serotonergic system in avian brains may provide an interesting opportunity for detailed comparative studies of the function of serotonergic systems in mammals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:04:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4420acb86702419d8a3d4f5360754808 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5099 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:04:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-4420acb86702419d8a3d4f53607548082023-07-19T04:52:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience1662-50992023-07-011610.3389/fnmol.2023.12266451226645Molecular biology of serotonergic systems in avian brainsToshiyuki Fujita0Naoya Aoki1Chihiro Mori2Koichi J. Homma3Shinji Yamaguchi4Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo University, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo University, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo University, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo University, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo University, Tokyo, JapanSerotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a phylogenetically conserved neurotransmitter and modulator. Neurons utilizing serotonin have been identified in the central nervous systems of all vertebrates. In the central serotonergic system of vertebrate species examined so far, serotonergic neurons have been confirmed to exist in clusters in the brainstem. Although many serotonin-regulated cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functions have been elucidated in mammals, equivalents remain poorly understood in non-mammalian vertebrates. The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge of the anatomical organization and molecular features of the avian central serotonergic system. In addition, selected key functions of serotonin are briefly reviewed. Gene association studies between serotonergic system related genes and behaviors in birds have elucidated that the serotonergic system is involved in the regulation of behavior in birds similar to that observed in mammals. The widespread distribution of serotonergic modulation in the central nervous system and the evolutionary conservation of the serotonergic system provide a strong foundation for understanding and comparing the evolutionary continuity of neural circuits controlling corresponding brain functions within vertebrates. The main focus of this review is the chicken brain, with this type of poultry used as a model bird. The chicken is widely used not only as a model for answering questions in developmental biology and as a model for agriculturally useful breeding, but also in research relating to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional processes. In addition to a wealth of prior research on the projection relationships of avian brain regions, detailed subdivision similarities between avian and mammalian brains have recently been identified. Therefore, identifying the neural circuits modulated by the serotonergic system in avian brains may provide an interesting opportunity for detailed comparative studies of the function of serotonergic systems in mammals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2023.1226645/fullserotoninserotonergic systemserotonergic receptoravian brainhomology |
| spellingShingle | Toshiyuki Fujita Naoya Aoki Chihiro Mori Koichi J. Homma Shinji Yamaguchi Molecular biology of serotonergic systems in avian brains Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience serotonin serotonergic system serotonergic receptor avian brain homology |
| title | Molecular biology of serotonergic systems in avian brains |
| title_full | Molecular biology of serotonergic systems in avian brains |
| title_fullStr | Molecular biology of serotonergic systems in avian brains |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular biology of serotonergic systems in avian brains |
| title_short | Molecular biology of serotonergic systems in avian brains |
| title_sort | molecular biology of serotonergic systems in avian brains |
| topic | serotonin serotonergic system serotonergic receptor avian brain homology |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2023.1226645/full |
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