The Role of Serotonergic Signaling on Phototactic and Locomotor Behavior in Daphnia Magna

20 Pages Posted: 8 Jul 2022

See all articles by Cristian Gómez-Canela

Cristian Gómez-Canela

Ramon Llull University

Ferran Esquius

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Carlos Barata

Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC)

Abstract

The role of serotonin in Daphnia magna phototactic and locomotor behavior was assessed using reverse genetics and pharmacological treatments with serotonin and fluoxetine. The study was conducted with four clones: the wild type clone and three CRISPR D. magna ones with mutations in the tryptophan hydrolase gene (TRH) that is involved in serotonin synthesis. These included clones TRHA- and TRHB- with mutations in both alleles that lack serotonin and the mono-allelic mutant TRH+, that has serotonin. Obtained results indicated that animals lacking serotonin showed an increased negative phototactism and locomotor activity upon light stimuli and a reduced response to fish kairomones relative to the wild type and TRH+ individuals. Exposure to exogenous serotonin re-established the phototactism and locomotor activity of TRH- individuals to those of the wild type but did not affect phototactic responses to fish kairomones. Unexpectedly, fluoxetine was able to modify locomotor activity and phototactic behavior against fish kairomones in TRH-individuals lacking serotonin, and also it increased the concentrations of acethylcholine and GABA in exposed animals, which support the argument that fluoxetine may also affect other neurological pathways.

Keywords: behavior, serotonin, fluoxetine, fish kairomones, phototaxis, Daphnia

Suggested Citation

Gómez-Canela, Cristian and Esquius, Ferran and Barata, Carlos, The Role of Serotonergic Signaling on Phototactic and Locomotor Behavior in Daphnia Magna. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4157310 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4157310

Cristian Gómez-Canela

Ramon Llull University ( email )

Pedralbes 71
Barcelona, 08035
Spain

Ferran Esquius

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Carlos Barata (Contact Author)

Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) ( email )

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