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C.-z. Wang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • A gustatory receptor tuned to d-fructose in antennal sensilla chaetica of Helicoverpa armigera
    Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2015
    Co-Authors: Xiao-jing Jiang, Ling Qiao Huang, Chao Ning, Ming-jing Qu, C.-z. Wang
    Abstract:

    Abstract Insect gustatory systems play important roles in food selection and feeding behaviors. In spite of the enormous progress in understanding gustation in Drosophila , for other insects one of the key elements in gustatory signaling, the gustatory receptor (GR), is still elusive. In this study, we report that fructose elicits behavioral and physiological responses in Helicoverpa armigera (Harm) to fructose and identify the gustatory receptor for this sugar. Using the Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER) assays we found that females respond to fructose following stimulation of the distal part of the antenna, where we have identified contact chemosensilla tuned to fructose in tip recording experiments. We isolated three full-length cDNAs encoding candidate HarmGRs based on comparison with orthologous GR sequences in Heliothis virescens and functionally characterized the responses of HarmGR4 to 15 chemicals when this receptor was expressed in Xenopus oocytes with two-electrode voltage-clamp recording. Among the tastants tested, the oocytes dose-dependently responded only to d -fructose (EC 50  = 0.045 M). By combining behavioral, electrophysiological and molecular approaches, these results provide basic knowledge for further research on the molecular mechanisms of gustatory reception.

  • Tarsal taste neurons of helicoverpa assulta (guenée) respond to sugars and amino acids, suggesting a role in feeding and oviposition
    Journal of Insect Physiology, 2011
    Co-Authors: Y F Zhang, Ling Qiao Huang, Feng Ge, C.-z. Wang
    Abstract:

    Helicoverpa assulta and Helicoverpa armigera are sibling species with different host-plant ranges. We have previously reported electrophysiological and behavioral responses of H. armigera to sugars and amino acids. Here we describe a parallel study performed on H. assulta and compare the results obtained with the two species. In females, fourteen gustatory chemosensilla, identified on one ventrolateral side of the fifth tarsomere were stimulated with sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, myo-inositol, and the twenty common amino acids, using the tip-recording technique. The taste receptor neurons in eight chemosensilla were identified sensitive to the sugars, myo-inositol, Lys, Glu, Arg, Trp, and Ser which all induced Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER) when tarsi were stimulated. There was a positive correlation between electrophysiological activities and PER responses triggered by sucrose. No stimulatory effect on oviposition was observed with sugar or amino acid mixtures. In males, three chemosensilla showed responses to the four sugars, but generally weaker than in females. The major difference of the two species was the variety of amino acids triggering electrophysiological responses. The stimulatory effect of sugars and amino acids on H. assulta was also generally weaker than that on H. armigera. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

  • Tarsal taste neuron activity and Proboscis Extension Reflex in response to sugars and amino acids in Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)
    Journal of Experimental Biology, 2010
    Co-Authors: Y F Zhang, Joop J. A. Van Loon, C.-z. Wang
    Abstract:

    In adult female Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), the fifth tarsomere of the prothoracic legs bears 14 gustatory trichoid chemosensilla. These chemosensilla were characterized through electrophysiological experiments by stimulating with sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, myo-inositol and 20 common amino acids. In electrophysiological recordings from nine sensilla, responses were obtained to certain compounds tested at 100 mmol l(-1), and the response spectra differed from broad to narrow. The four sugars excited the same receptor neuron in sensillum a and sensillum b; sucrose and myo-inositol, sucrose and lysine, myo-inositol and lysine excited two different receptor neurons respectively in sensillum a; fructose and lysine excited two different receptor neurons in sensillum n. Furthermore, the four sugars, myo-inositol and lysine all elicited concentration-dependent electrophysiological responses. These six compounds also induced the Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER) followed by ingestion of the solution when they were applied on the tarsi. Lysine and sucrose caused the strongest electrophysiological responses. However, sucrose had the strongest stimulatory effect on the PER whereas lysine had the weakest. Mixtures of sucrose with the other sugars or with lysine had a similar stimulatory effect on the PER as sucrose alone. The electrophysiological and behavioural responses caused by a range of sucrose concentrations were positively correlated. We conclude that the tarsal gustatory sensilla play an essential role in perceiving sugars available in floral nectar and provide chemosensory information determining feeding behaviour. Tarsal taste-receptor-neuron responses to lysine are implicated in oviposition behaviour.

Martin Giurfa - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Behavioral studies on tarsal gustation in honeybees: sucrose responsiveness and sucrose-mediated olfactory conditioning A Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology
    Journal of Comparative Physiology A-neuroethology Sensory Neural and Behavioral Physiology, 2020
    Co-Authors: Maria Gabriela De Brito Sanchez, Monique Gauthier, Chun Chen, Jianjun Li, Martin Giurfa
    Abstract:

    Although the forelegs of honeybees are one of their main gustatory appendages, tarsal gustation in bees has never been systematically studied. To provide a more extensive account on honeybee tarsal gustation, we performed a series of behavioral experiments aimed at characterizing (1) tarsal sucrose sensitivity under different experimental conditions and (2) the capacity of tarsal sucrose stimulation to support olfactory conditioning. We quantified the Proboscis Extension Reflex to tarsal sucrose stimulation and to odors paired with tarsal sucrose stimulation, respectively. Our experiments show that tarsal sucrose sensitivity is lower than antennal sucrose sensitivity and can be increased by starvation time. In contrast, antennae amputation decreases tarsal sucrose sensitivity. Furthermore, we show that tarsal sucrose stimulation can support olfactory learning and memory even if the acquisition level reached is relatively low (40%).

  • classical conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Reflex in the honeybee
    2013
    Co-Authors: Jean Christophe Sandoz, Yukihisa Matsumoto, Martin Giurfa
    Abstract:

    Insects have sophisticated learning abilities subtended by simple neural systems and lower numbers of neurons compared to vertebrates. Especially, honeybees (Apis mellifera) are reported to have the highest and broad range of learning abilities. In this chapter, we introduce a classic behavioral tool for the study of olfactory learning and memory in bees, the olfactory classical conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER). In this protocol, individually harnessed honeybees are trained to associate an odor with sucrose solution. The resulting olfactory learning is fast and induces robust olfactory memories that have been characterized at the behavioral, neuronal, and molecular levels. We detail step-by-step the methodology of olfactory PER conditioning in order to provide a standardized framework for experiments using this tool. We also review research highlights revealed by olfactory conditioning of PER and variations of this procedure applied in the case of honeybees.

  • Behavioral studies on tarsal gustation in honeybees: sucrose responsiveness and sucrose-mediated olfactory conditioning
    Journal of Comparative Physiology A-neuroethology Sensory Neural and Behavioral Physiology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Maria Gabriela De Brito Sanchez, Monique Gauthier, Chun Chen, Jianjun Li, Martin Giurfa
    Abstract:

    Although the forelegs of honeybees are one of their main gustatory appendages, tarsal gustation in bees has never been systematically studied. To provide a more extensive account on honeybee tarsal gustation, we performed a series of behavioral experiments aimed at characterizing (1) tarsal sucrose sensitivity under different experimental conditions and (2) the capacity of tarsal sucrose stimulation to support olfactory conditioning. We quantified the Proboscis Extension Reflex to tarsal sucrose stimulation and to odors paired with tarsal sucrose stimulation, respectively. Our experiments show that tarsal sucrose sensitivity is lower than antennal sucrose sensitivity and can be increased by starvation time. In contrast, antennae amputation decreases tarsal sucrose sensitivity. Furthermore, we show that tarsal sucrose stimulation can support olfactory learning and memory even if the acquisition level reached is relatively low (40%).

  • associative mechanosensory conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Reflex in honeybees
    Learning & Memory, 2004
    Co-Authors: Martin Giurfa, Dagmar Malun
    Abstract:

    The present work introduces a form of associative mechanosensory conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER) in honeybees. In our paradigm, harnessed honeybees learn the elemental association between mechanosensory, antennal stimulation and a reward of sucrose solution delivered to the Proboscis. Thereafter, bees extend their Proboscis to the antennal mechanosensory stimulation alone. We show that bees can learn such an association in a side-specific manner, that is, they learn the association on the antennal side that was rewarded and not on the side that was not rewarded. Responding produced by the paired training does likely contain a substantial Pavlovian component. Responding is only elicited by mechanosensory stimulation and not by spurious cues such as olfactory, visual, and contextual ones. The interstimulus interval (ISI) affects one-trial mechanosensory learning: a bell-shaped curve with a maximum of responding ∼4 sec ISI was obtained. Mechanosensory memory is still operative 24 h after conditioning. Apart from absolute conditioning in which mechanosensory stimulation of one antenna is paired with sucrose, differential, side-specific, mechanosensory conditioning using two mechanosensory stimulations, one rewarded and the other not, is also possible. This paradigm constitutes, therefore, a new standard procedure for further learning studies in honeybees.

Jean Christophe Sandoz - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • classical conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Reflex in the honeybee
    2013
    Co-Authors: Jean Christophe Sandoz, Yukihisa Matsumoto, Martin Giurfa
    Abstract:

    Insects have sophisticated learning abilities subtended by simple neural systems and lower numbers of neurons compared to vertebrates. Especially, honeybees (Apis mellifera) are reported to have the highest and broad range of learning abilities. In this chapter, we introduce a classic behavioral tool for the study of olfactory learning and memory in bees, the olfactory classical conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER). In this protocol, individually harnessed honeybees are trained to associate an odor with sucrose solution. The resulting olfactory learning is fast and induces robust olfactory memories that have been characterized at the behavioral, neuronal, and molecular levels. We detail step-by-step the methodology of olfactory PER conditioning in order to provide a standardized framework for experiments using this tool. We also review research highlights revealed by olfactory conditioning of PER and variations of this procedure applied in the case of honeybees.

  • Early calcium increase triggers the formation of olfactory long-term memory in honeybees
    BMC Biology, 2009
    Co-Authors: Emmanuel Perisse, Valérie Raymond-delpech, Isabelle Néant, Yukihisa Matsumoto, Catherine Leclerc, Marc Moreau, Jean Christophe Sandoz
    Abstract:

    BackgroundSynaptic plasticity associated with an important wave of gene transcription and protein synthesis underlies long-term memory processes. Calcium (Ca^2+) plays an important role in a variety of neuronal functions and indirect evidence suggests that it may be involved in synaptic plasticity and in the regulation of gene expression correlated to long-term memory formation. The aim of this study was to determine whether Ca^2+ is necessary and sufficient for inducing long-term memory formation. A suitable model to address this question is the Pavlovian appetitive conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Reflex in the honeybee Apis mellifera, in which animals learn to associate an odor with a sucrose reward.ResultsBy modulating the intracellular Ca^2+ concentration ([Ca^2+]i) in the brain, we show that: (i) blocking [Ca^2+]i increase during multiple-trial conditioning selectively impairs long-term memory performance; (ii) conversely, increasing [Ca^2+]i during single-trial conditioning triggers long-term memory formation; and finally, (iii) as was the case for long-term memory produced by multiple-trial conditioning, enhancement of long-term memory performance induced by a [Ca^2+]i increase depends on de novo protein synthesis.ConclusionAltogether our data suggest that during olfactory conditioning Ca^2+ is both a necessary and a sufficient signal for the formation of protein-dependent long-term memory. Ca^2+ therefore appears to act as a switch between short- and long-term storage of learned information.

Y F Zhang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Tarsal taste neurons of helicoverpa assulta (guenée) respond to sugars and amino acids, suggesting a role in feeding and oviposition
    Journal of Insect Physiology, 2011
    Co-Authors: Y F Zhang, Ling Qiao Huang, Feng Ge, C.-z. Wang
    Abstract:

    Helicoverpa assulta and Helicoverpa armigera are sibling species with different host-plant ranges. We have previously reported electrophysiological and behavioral responses of H. armigera to sugars and amino acids. Here we describe a parallel study performed on H. assulta and compare the results obtained with the two species. In females, fourteen gustatory chemosensilla, identified on one ventrolateral side of the fifth tarsomere were stimulated with sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, myo-inositol, and the twenty common amino acids, using the tip-recording technique. The taste receptor neurons in eight chemosensilla were identified sensitive to the sugars, myo-inositol, Lys, Glu, Arg, Trp, and Ser which all induced Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER) when tarsi were stimulated. There was a positive correlation between electrophysiological activities and PER responses triggered by sucrose. No stimulatory effect on oviposition was observed with sugar or amino acid mixtures. In males, three chemosensilla showed responses to the four sugars, but generally weaker than in females. The major difference of the two species was the variety of amino acids triggering electrophysiological responses. The stimulatory effect of sugars and amino acids on H. assulta was also generally weaker than that on H. armigera. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

  • Tarsal taste neuron activity and Proboscis Extension Reflex in response to sugars and amino acids in Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)
    Journal of Experimental Biology, 2010
    Co-Authors: Y F Zhang, Joop J. A. Van Loon, C.-z. Wang
    Abstract:

    In adult female Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), the fifth tarsomere of the prothoracic legs bears 14 gustatory trichoid chemosensilla. These chemosensilla were characterized through electrophysiological experiments by stimulating with sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, myo-inositol and 20 common amino acids. In electrophysiological recordings from nine sensilla, responses were obtained to certain compounds tested at 100 mmol l(-1), and the response spectra differed from broad to narrow. The four sugars excited the same receptor neuron in sensillum a and sensillum b; sucrose and myo-inositol, sucrose and lysine, myo-inositol and lysine excited two different receptor neurons respectively in sensillum a; fructose and lysine excited two different receptor neurons in sensillum n. Furthermore, the four sugars, myo-inositol and lysine all elicited concentration-dependent electrophysiological responses. These six compounds also induced the Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER) followed by ingestion of the solution when they were applied on the tarsi. Lysine and sucrose caused the strongest electrophysiological responses. However, sucrose had the strongest stimulatory effect on the PER whereas lysine had the weakest. Mixtures of sucrose with the other sugars or with lysine had a similar stimulatory effect on the PER as sucrose alone. The electrophysiological and behavioural responses caused by a range of sucrose concentrations were positively correlated. We conclude that the tarsal gustatory sensilla play an essential role in perceiving sugars available in floral nectar and provide chemosensory information determining feeding behaviour. Tarsal taste-receptor-neuron responses to lysine are implicated in oviposition behaviour.

Charles I Abramson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Development of an Ethanol Model Using Social Insects: II. Effect of Antabuse® on Consumatory Responses and Learned Behavior of the Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera L.):
    Psychological Reports, 2020
    Co-Authors: Charles I Abramson, Gina W. Fellows, Blaine L. Browne, Adam L. Lawson, Richard A. Ortiz
    Abstract:

    The ability of Antabuse® (disulfiram) to influence ethanol consumption and learning in harnessed honey bees was investigated. In the first series of experiments a factorial design was used with 5 levels of ethanol concentration (0%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%), 4 doses of Antabuse® (0, 37 μg/g, 3.7 μg/g, .37 μg/g), and 2 testing intervals (1 min., 10 min.). Animals were fed a single 1 μl dose of Antabuse® and contact time with an ethanol solution measured. A second series of experiments investigated the influence of Antabuse® on the formation of Pavlovian conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Reflex. A factorial design was used with two levels of training (paired, unpaired), three levels of ethanol (0%, 1%, 5%), and 2 levels of pretreatment (distilled water, 3.7 μg/g). Analysis of the consumption experiments indicate that pretreatment with Antabuse® reduces ethanol intake, although there was substantial variability. The findings of the Pavlovian experiments suggest that pretreatment with Antabuse® significantly r...

  • the first order transfer function in the analysis of agrochemical data in honey bees apis mellifera l Proboscis Extension Reflex per studies
    Insects, 2014
    Co-Authors: Lisa A De Stefano, Igor I Stepanov, Charles I Abramson
    Abstract:

    This paper describes a mathematical model of the learning process suitable for studies of conditioning using the Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER) in honey bees when bees are exposed to agrochemicals. Although procedural variations exist in the way laboratories use the PER paradigm, Proboscis conditioning is widely used to investigate the influence of pesticides and repellents on honey bee learning. Despite the availability of several mathematical models of the learning process, no attempts have been made to apply a mathematical model to the learning curve in honey bees exposed to agrochemicals. Our model is based on the standard transfer function in the form Y = B3e−B2 (X−1) + B4 (1−e−B2 (X−1)) where X is the trial number, Y is the proportion of correct responses, B2 is the learning rate, B3 is readiness to learn, and B4 is ability to learn. We reanalyze previously published data on the effect of several classes of agrochemicals including: (1) those that are considered harmless to bees (e.g., pymetrozine, essential oils, dicofol); (2) sublethal exposure to pesticides known to harm honey bees (e.g., coumaphos, cyfluthrin, fluvalinate, permethrin); and (3) putative repellents of honey bees (e.g., butyric acid, citronella). The model revealed additional effects not detected with standard statistical tests of significance.

  • Pavlovian conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Reflex in harnessed foragers using paired vs. unpaired and discrimination learning paradigms: tests for differences among honeybee subspecies in Turkey
    Apidologie, 2008
    Co-Authors: Charles I Abramson, T. Andrew Mixson, Ibrahim Çakmak, Aaron J. Place, Harrington Wells
    Abstract:

    Experiments utilized three honeybee subspecies from very distinct biomes ( Apis mellifera caucasica , A.m. carnica, A.m. syriaca ). In experiment one a simple association between odor and a sucrose feeding was readily established in all three subspecies. This association decreased when the conditioned stimulus was no longer followed by a feeding. Neither the learning rate nor extinction rate differed among subspecies. Unpaired controls confirmed that the acquisition of the odor-food association is learned. In experiment two, an attempt to uncover subspecies differences was tested through the ability of bees to discriminate between two odors, one of which is paired with a feeding. Rapid learning occurred in all subspecies and no significant subspecies differences were observed. Finally, discrimination learning was used as an added control to test for honeybee response to an olfactory versus mechanical (air) stimulus. Die Effektivität der RüsselReflex-Konditionierung in drei Honigbienen-Rassen wurde in der Zentraltürkei untersucht. Obwohl die Bienen sich morphologisch stark unterscheiden, gibt es bisher erstaunlich wenig vergleichende Untersuchungen zum Lernverhalten. Aus zwei Gründen konzentrierten wir uns bei unseren ersten Untersuchungen auf einfaches diskriminatives Lernen. Erstens hatten wir solche Lernversuche in einigen früheren Studien zur Wirkung von Pestiziden auf Honigbienen verwendet. Zweitens helfen diskriminative Experimente bei der weiteren Interpretation des Lernens, da z. B. der Wind, der beim Anbieten von Duftstoffen über Luftströme erzeugt wird, per se als konditionierender Reiz wirken kann. In diskriminativen Lernversuchen müssen die Bienen auf einen von zwei angebotenen Düften reagieren, während der Wind, der während der Duftstoffapplikation erzeugt wird, konstant gehalten wird. Ohne diese diskriminative Kontrolle könnte man nicht sicher sein, dass die Biene auch wirklich auf den vermeintlichen Duft als Konditionierungsreiz reagiert. Diskriminative Experimente ermöglichen auch komplexere Versuchsanordnungen wie z. B. Reversal-Lernen. In Experiment 1 wurden 40 Bienen aus verschiedenen Völkern von Apis mellifera caucasica, A.m. carnica und A.m. syriaca getestet. Innerhalb jeder Bienenrasse erhielten 20 Bienen je 12 verbundene KS-US angeboten (KS = konditionierender Stimulus, US = unkonditionierender Stimulus) angeboten und danach 12 Extinktionsversuche, in denen der US ausgelassen wurde. Die Extinktionsversuche sollten Aufschluss über die Dauerhaftigkeit der Reizantwort innerhalb der einzelnen Bienenrassen geben. Als Kontrolle für Pseudokonditionierung erhielt eine zweite Gruppe von Bienen unverbundene KS-US angeboten. Die Dauer des KS war 3 Sekunden, die des US 2 Sekunden und das Intervall zwischen den Versuchsdurchgängen (ITT) betrug 10 Minuten. Das zweite Experiment unterschied sich vom ersten lediglich dadurch, dass zwei konditionierende Stimuli (KS) angeboten wurden, die Extinktion nicht untersucht wurde und ITT von 10 auf 5 Minuten reduziert wurde. Von 20 Bienen jeder Rasse erhielten die Hälfte KS+ (Zimt) und einen KS-(Wintergrün) ohne anschließendes Füttern. Für die restlichen 10 Bienen jeder Gruppe wurden die Düfte für CS+ und CS− in umgekehrter Reihenfolge angeboten. Bei den Ergebnissen konnten keine Unterschiede zwischen den drei Bienenrassen festgestellt werden. Die Abbildung 1 zeigt, dass die Lernkurven für Apis mellifera caucasica, A.m. carnica , und A.m. syriaca sowohl in der Lern- als auch in der Extinktionsphase ähnlich sind. Die Abbildung 2 bestätigt darüber hinaus, dass alle drei Bienenrassen rasch zwischen den zwei KS unterscheiden können und es dabei keine Rassenunterschiede gibt. Obwohl wir keine Rassenunterschiede bei der einfachen und diskriminativen Konditionierung feststellen konnten, ist diese RüsselReflex-Konditionierung nur ein erster Schritt bei der Untersuchung potentieller Unterschiede in der Lernfähigkeit verschiedener Bienenrassen. Laufende Untersuchungen an frei fliegenden Sammlerinnen mögen hier weitere Aufschlüsse bringen. Sollten Lernunterschiede tatsächlich existieren, könnten sich bestimmte Bienenrassen besser für Bestäubungsmaßnahmen eignen als andere.

  • pavlovian conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Reflex in harnessed foragers using paired vs unpaired and discrimination learning paradigms tests for differences among honeybee subspecies in turkey
    Apidologie, 2008
    Co-Authors: Charles I Abramson, Ibrahim Çakmak, Aaron J. Place, Andrew T Mixson, Harrington Wells
    Abstract:

    Experiments utilized three honeybee subspecies from very distinct biomes (Apis mellifera caucasica, A.m. carnica, A.m. syriaca). In experiment one a simple association between odor and a sucrose feeding was readily established in all three subspecies. This association decreased when the conditioned stimulus was no longer followed by a feeding. Neither the learning rate nor extinction rate differed among subspecies. Unpaired controls confirmed that the acquisition of the odor-food association is learned. In experiment two, an attempt to uncover subspecies differences was tested through the ability of bees to discriminate between two odors, one of which is paired with a feeding. Rapid learning occurred in all subspecies and no significant subspecies differences were observed. Finally, discrimination learning was used as an added control to test for honeybee response to an olfactory versus mechanical (air) stimulus.

  • Uso de zangões (Apis mellifera L.) na detecção de cera de abelha adulterada
    Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 2000
    Co-Authors: Maurizete Cruz Silva, Charles I Abramson, Italo S. Aquino, José Wellington Dos Santos
    Abstract:

    This research evaluated the ability of Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) drones to detect adulterated beeswax using the Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER). Two hundred and forty drones were divided into 12 groups containing different levels of adulterated beeswax (100% beeswax, 90% beeswax..., 10% beeswax, 0% beeswax). An air stimulus was included as a control for the possible influence of the air flux per se. The animals were maintained in metal tubes, harnessed with Ducktape® between the head and thorax. The results of the drones performance in PER olfactive conditioning indicate that these animals are able to detect different levels of adulterated beeswax. The drones shown a better response to the treatment containing 100% of beeswax. This bioassay can serve as an alternative tool in the screening of beeswax in beekeeping and industry.