@article{HabensteinThammRoessler2021,
  author    = {Habenstein, Jens and Thamm, Markus and R{\"o}ssler, Wolfgang},
  title     = {Neuropeptides as potential modulators of behavioral transitions in the ant Cataglyphis nodus},
  series = {Journal of Comparative Neurology},
  volume    = {529},
  journal   = {Journal of Comparative Neurology},
  number    = {12},
  doi       = {10.1002/cne.25166},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-244751},
  pages     = {3155 -- 3170},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Age-related behavioral plasticity is a major prerequisite for the ecological success of insect societies. Although ecological aspects of behavioral flexibility have been targeted in many studies, the underlying intrinsic mechanisms controlling the diverse changes in behavior along the individual life history of social insects are not completely understood. Recently, the neuropeptides allatostatin-A, corazonin, and tachykinin have been associated with the regulation of behavioral transitions in social insects. Here, we investigated changes in brain localization and expression of these neuropeptides following major behavioral transitions in Cataglyphis nodus ants. Our immunohistochemical analyses in the brain revealed that the overall branching pattern of neurons immunoreactive (ir) for the three neuropeptides is largely independent of the behavioral stages. Numerous allatostatin-A- and tachykinin-ir neurons innervate primary sensory neuropils and high-order integration centers of the brain. In contrast, the number of corazonergic neurons is restricted to only four neurons per brain hemisphere with cell bodies located in the pars lateralis and axons extending to the medial protocerebrum and the retrocerebral complex. Most interestingly, the cell-body volumes of these neurons are significantly increased in foragers compared to freshly eclosed ants and interior workers. Quantification of mRNA expression levels revealed a stage-related change in the expression of allatostatin-A and corazonin mRNA in the brain. Given the presence of the neuropeptides in major control centers of the brain and the neurohemal organs, these mRNA-changes strongly suggest an important modulatory role of both neuropeptides in the behavioral maturation of Cataglyphis ants.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchilcherThammStrubeBlossetal.2021,
  author    = {Schilcher, Felix and Thamm, Markus and Strube-Bloss, Martin and Scheiner, Ricarda},
  title     = {Opposing actions of octopamine and tyramine on honeybee vision},
  series = {Biomolecules},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Biomolecules},
  number    = {9},
  issn      = {2218-273X},
  doi       = {10.3390/biom11091374},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-246214},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {The biogenic amines octopamine and tyramine are important neurotransmitters in insects and other protostomes. They play a pivotal role in the sensory responses, learning and memory and social organisation of honeybees. Generally, octopamine and tyramine are believed to fulfil similar roles as their deuterostome counterparts epinephrine and norepinephrine. In some cases opposing functions of both amines have been observed. In this study, we examined the functions of tyramine and octopamine in honeybee responses to light. As a first step, electroretinography was used to analyse the effect of both amines on sensory sensitivity at the photoreceptor level. Here, the maximum receptor response was increased by octopamine and decreased by tyramine. As a second step, phototaxis experiments were performed to quantify the behavioural responses to light following treatment with either amine. Octopamine increased the walking speed towards different light sources while tyramine decreased it. This was independent of locomotor activity. Our results indicate that tyramine and octopamine act as functional opposites in processing responses to light.},
  language  = {en}
}