Pre- and Postsynaptic Role of Dopamine D2 Receptor DD2R in Drosophila Olfactory Associative Learning

Dopaminergic neurons in Drosophila play critical roles in diverse brain functions such as motor control, arousal, learning, and memory. Using genetic and behavioral approaches, it has been firmly established that proper dopamine signaling is required for olfactory classical conditioning (e.g., avers...

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Main Authors: Cheng Qi, Daewoo Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2014-11-01
Series:Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/3/4/831
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author Cheng Qi
Daewoo Lee
author_facet Cheng Qi
Daewoo Lee
author_sort Cheng Qi
collection DOAJ
description Dopaminergic neurons in Drosophila play critical roles in diverse brain functions such as motor control, arousal, learning, and memory. Using genetic and behavioral approaches, it has been firmly established that proper dopamine signaling is required for olfactory classical conditioning (e.g., aversive and appetitive learning). Dopamine mediates its functions through interaction with its receptors. There are two different types of dopamine receptors in Drosophila: D1-like (dDA1, DAMB) and D2-like receptors (DD2R). Currently, no study has attempted to characterize the role of DD2R in Drosophila learning and memory. Using a DD2R-RNAi transgenic line, we have examined the role of DD2R, expressed in dopamine neurons (i.e., the presynaptic DD2R autoreceptor), in larval olfactory learning. The function of postsynaptic DD2R expressed in mushroom body (MB) was also studied as MB is the center for Drosophila learning, with a function analogous to that of the mammalian hippocampus. Our results showed that suppression of presynaptic DD2R autoreceptors impairs both appetitive and aversive learning. Similarly, postsynaptic DD2R in MB neurons appears to be involved in both appetitive and aversive learning. The data confirm, for the first time, that DD2R plays an important role in Drosophila olfactory learning.
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spelling doaj.art-9048347df09b4e3ea0e265d524b37b092023-08-02T04:07:45ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372014-11-013483184510.3390/biology3040831biology3040831Pre- and Postsynaptic Role of Dopamine D2 Receptor DD2R in Drosophila Olfactory Associative LearningCheng Qi0Daewoo Lee1Neuroscience Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USANeuroscience Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USADopaminergic neurons in Drosophila play critical roles in diverse brain functions such as motor control, arousal, learning, and memory. Using genetic and behavioral approaches, it has been firmly established that proper dopamine signaling is required for olfactory classical conditioning (e.g., aversive and appetitive learning). Dopamine mediates its functions through interaction with its receptors. There are two different types of dopamine receptors in Drosophila: D1-like (dDA1, DAMB) and D2-like receptors (DD2R). Currently, no study has attempted to characterize the role of DD2R in Drosophila learning and memory. Using a DD2R-RNAi transgenic line, we have examined the role of DD2R, expressed in dopamine neurons (i.e., the presynaptic DD2R autoreceptor), in larval olfactory learning. The function of postsynaptic DD2R expressed in mushroom body (MB) was also studied as MB is the center for Drosophila learning, with a function analogous to that of the mammalian hippocampus. Our results showed that suppression of presynaptic DD2R autoreceptors impairs both appetitive and aversive learning. Similarly, postsynaptic DD2R in MB neurons appears to be involved in both appetitive and aversive learning. The data confirm, for the first time, that DD2R plays an important role in Drosophila olfactory learning.http://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/3/4/831Drosophila larvaeaversive learningappetitive learningdopaminergic neuronsmushroom body
spellingShingle Cheng Qi
Daewoo Lee
Pre- and Postsynaptic Role of Dopamine D2 Receptor DD2R in Drosophila Olfactory Associative Learning
Biology
Drosophila larvae
aversive learning
appetitive learning
dopaminergic neurons
mushroom body
title Pre- and Postsynaptic Role of Dopamine D2 Receptor DD2R in Drosophila Olfactory Associative Learning
title_full Pre- and Postsynaptic Role of Dopamine D2 Receptor DD2R in Drosophila Olfactory Associative Learning
title_fullStr Pre- and Postsynaptic Role of Dopamine D2 Receptor DD2R in Drosophila Olfactory Associative Learning
title_full_unstemmed Pre- and Postsynaptic Role of Dopamine D2 Receptor DD2R in Drosophila Olfactory Associative Learning
title_short Pre- and Postsynaptic Role of Dopamine D2 Receptor DD2R in Drosophila Olfactory Associative Learning
title_sort pre and postsynaptic role of dopamine d2 receptor dd2r in drosophila olfactory associative learning
topic Drosophila larvae
aversive learning
appetitive learning
dopaminergic neurons
mushroom body
url http://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/3/4/831
work_keys_str_mv AT chengqi preandpostsynapticroleofdopamined2receptordd2rindrosophilaolfactoryassociativelearning
AT daewoolee preandpostsynapticroleofdopamined2receptordd2rindrosophilaolfactoryassociativelearning