Identification of the neurotransmitter profile of AmFoxP expressing neurons in the honeybee brain using double-label in situ hybridization

Abstract

BackgroundFoxP transcription factors play crucial roles for the development and function of vertebrate brains. In humans the neurally expressed FOXPs, FOXP1, FOXP2, and FOXP4 are implicated in cognition, including language. Neural FoxP expression is specific to particular brain regions but FoxP1, FoxP2 and FoxP4 are not limited to a particular neuron or neurotransmitter type. Motor- or sensory activity can regulate FoxP2 expression, e.g. in the striatal nucleus Area X of songbirds and in the auditory thalamus of mice. The DNA-binding domain of FoxP proteins is highly conserved within metazoa, raising the possibility that cellular functions were preserved across deep evolutionary time. We have previously shown in bee brains that FoxP is expressed in eleven specific neuron populations, seven tightly packed clusters and four loosely arranged groups.ResultsThe present study examined the co-expression of honeybee FoxP (AmFoxP) with markers for glutamatergic, GABAergic, cholinergic and monoaminergic transmission. We found that AmFoxP could co-occur with any one of those markers. Interestingly, AmFoxP clusters and AmFoxP groups differed with respect to homogeneity of marker co-expression; within a cluster, all neurons co-expressed the same neurotransmitter marker, within a group co-expression varied. We also assessed qualitatively whether age or housing conditions providing different sensory and motor experiences affected the AmFoxP neuron populations, but found no differences.ConclusionsBased on the neurotransmitter homogeneity we conclude that AmFoxP neurons within the clusters might have a common projection and function whereas the AmFoxP groups are more diverse and could be further sub-divided. The obtained information about the neurotransmitters co-expressed in the AmFoxP neuron populations facilitated the search of similar neurons described in the literature. These comparisons revealed e.g. a possible function of AmFoxP neurons in the central complex. Our findings provide opportunities to focus future functional studies on invertebrate FoxP expressing neurons. In a broader context, our data will contribute to the ongoing efforts to discern in which cases relationships between molecular and phenotypic signatures are linked evolutionary.

Identification of FoxP circuits involved in locomotion and object fixation in Drosophila

“…Finally, a few FoxP-iB positive neurons were found to colocalize with tyrosine hydroxylase (dopaminergic neurons) in the CB only ( figure 3 d ). These data are consistent with the study performed by Schatton et al [ 37 ] in honeybees where they found colocalization between AmFoxP-positive neurons and GABAergic, cholinergic and monoaminergic markers. No colocalization was instead found in photoreceptor cells stained with Chaoptin (data deposited at doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.12607643 10.6084/m9.figshare.12607643 ), a marker for photoreceptor cells [ 38 ].…”

Identification ofFoxPcircuits involved in locomotion and object fixation inDrosophila

“…3D). These data are consistent with the study performed by [36] in honeybees where they found colocalization between Am-FoxP positive neurons and GABAergic, cholinergic and monoaminergic markers. No colocalization was instead found in photoreceptor cells stained with Chaoptin (data deposited at doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12607643), a marker for photoreceptor cells [37].…”

“…3D). These data are consistent with the study performed by (Schatton et al, 2018) (Pollock et al, 1990). 4E).…”