Threshold of defensive response in Apis mellifera (honey bees) and subsequent brain gene expression in reaction to noxious stimuli

• DOI: 10.1111/eea.13529
• Publication Date: 2024-11-21T11:28:32Z
• Authors: Jenny P. Acevedo‐...; Alberto Galindo‐C...; Nicolas L. Fuenza...; Yarira Ortiz‐Alva...; Alfredo Ghezzi; Tugrul Giray
• Keywords: Octopamine (neurotransmitter); Neuromodulation; Biogenic amine

Abstract Honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), colonies and individuals respond variably to disturbances. The response depends on perception interpretation of stimuli requiring both neural modulation use energy. In this study, we examined the role brain metabolism in constitutive experience‐dependent differences defensive response. For differences, compared gene expression bees from gentle identified a standard colony‐level assay. changes defensiveness response, control that responded by sting extension electric shock standardized individual behavioral experiments, for neuromodulation, membrane receptor genes biogenic amines dopamine ( DopR2 ), octopamine OA1 serotonin 5HT2a as well enzyme responsible synthesis THR ). metabolism, two Oxidative Phosphorylation Pathway “OXPHOS” ND51 ND20‐LIKE Bees collected had significantly lower amine receptor, gene, OXPHOS genes. However, responding noxious (i.e., shock) showed greater neuromodulation genes, except . We discuss intriguing intersection contrasting experience dependent or adaptive differences.