Questions, Feedback & Help
Send us an email and we'll get back to you ASAP. Or you can read our Frequently Asked Questions.
  • page settings
  • hide sidebar
  • show empty fields
  • layout
  • (too narrow)
  • open all
  • close all
Resources » Paper

Pocock R et al. (2009) European Worm Neurobiology Meeting "HYPOXIC REGULATION OF BEHAVIOR VIA INDUCTION OF SEROTONIN EXPRESSION"

  • History

  • Referenced

  • Tree Display

  • My Favorites

  • My Library

  • Comments on Pocock R et al. (2009) European Worm Neurobiology Meeting "HYPOXIC REGULATION OF BEHAVIOR VIA INDUCTION OF SEROTONIN EXPRESSION" (0)

  • Overview

    Status:
    Publication type:
    Meeting_abstract
    WormBase ID:
    WBPaper00035343

    Pocock R, & Hobert O (2009). HYPOXIC REGULATION OF BEHAVIOR VIA INDUCTION OF SEROTONIN EXPRESSION presented in European Worm Neurobiology Meeting. Unpublished information; cite only with author permission.

    Dedicated neuronal circuits enable animals to elicit specific behavioral responses to environmental stimuli. In stressful conditions, the ability to utilize alternative functional circuits may provide additional survival and dispersal strategies. Oxygen stress motivates behavior in C. elegans, which is able to avoid both high and low oxygen concentrations. Intriguingly, we find that post-developmental exposure to hypoxia (low oxygen) reprograms a gustatory circuit through activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1) pathway. Hypoxia-induced stabilization of the transcription factor HIF-1 induces an enhanced gustatory response through upregulation of serotonin expression. These results suggest that physiological detection of hypoxic stress facilitates plasticity within neuronal circuitry to modify behavior. We believe that such hypoxia-induced hyper-responsiveness to environmental cues may be part of a more widespread escape response initiated under stress.


    Tip: Seeing your name marked red? Please help us identify you.