Citation

Baier A, Wittek B, Brembs B. J. Exp. Biol. 2002; 205(Pt 9): 1233-1240.

Affiliation

Lehrstuhl für Genetik und Neurobiologie, Biozentrum, Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Company of Biologists Limited)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11948200

Abstract

We report here the effects of several neurobiological determinants on aggressive behaviour in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. This study combines behavioural, transgenic, genetic and pharmacological techniques that are well established in the fruitfly, in the novel context of the neurobiology of aggression. We find that octopamine, dopamine and a region in the Drosophila brain called the mushroom bodies, all profoundly influence the expression of aggressive behaviour. Serotonin had no effect. We conclude that Drosophila, with its advanced set of molecular tools and its behavioural richness, has the potential to develop into a new model organism for the study of the neurobiology of aggression.

Language: en