Circling behavior in honey bees

Brain Res. 1987 Sep 22;421(1-2):14-20. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(87)91269-8.

Abstract

Unilateral microinjections of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acetylcholine (ACh) and related substances into central parts of the brain of the honey bee elicit a quantifiable circling behavior. GABA (40 nl, 10(-2) M, muscimol (40 nl, 10(-4) M) and flaxedil (10(-3) M, 40 nl) induce contralateral circling whilst ACh (40 nl, 10(-2) M), nicotine (40 nl, 10(-4) M) and picrotoxin (40 nl, 10(-3) M) induce ipsilateral circling if injected in the proximity of the alpha-lobe (50-100 microns) of the of the mushroom body. Mechanical lesions of the pedunculus induce ipsilateral circling. This can be reversed by ipsilateral injections of GABA and flaxedil. Intracellular recordings demonstrate a hyperpolarizing effect of GABA and a depolarising effect of ACh on individual neurons in this region. These results suggest that circling behavior in the bee is controlled by the balance of GABA in the alpha-lobes and mediated by acetylcholinergic neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Acetylcholine / pharmacology*
  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Bees / physiology*
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / physiology*
  • GABA Antagonists
  • Gallamine Triethiodide / pharmacology
  • Muscimol / pharmacology
  • Picrotoxin / pharmacology
  • Stereotyped Behavior / drug effects
  • Stereotyped Behavior / physiology*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / pharmacology*

Substances

  • GABA Antagonists
  • Picrotoxin
  • Muscimol
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Acetylcholine
  • Gallamine Triethiodide