j *@ - Sociedade Brasileira de Psicologia

PHA RMA CO LOG Y O F LEA RNING A ND M EM O RY IN HO NEY BEES
MIC IIRO SUGAWA
Universidade Uvre de Berlim
N kopuc loN
One major nim in the study of lesrning and memory is obviously to eluddate
the basic mo' lecllnr mechnnlRms hwolved . 'Thig nim cmn be approached by conducting
experimental work at three different levels, namely the beiavioral, neural and
molecular. These different levels are exm rimentaly accessible by behavioral, electrophysiological,
and biochemic l analysis, although combining these levels has so far
proved to be very difficult. Since it is reasonable to assume that even widely different
phylogenetically systems such as vertebrates and invertebrates show cèmm on basic
mechanism s in elementary forms of lenrning and memory, we have chosen to study
such behavioral pradigms in the honeybee, which, for the experimenter, is a
mnrvelously accessible nnimal.
Various treatments influence lenrning, memory! and performnnce of memory,
i.e. memory formation (storage) and retrieval. For exnmple, the application of
phnrmncolo#œl agents kq a m werful tool with which one can xmrawl the process of
learning and memory. . .
' Currently, we are exxmining the influences of aml'nes, which are abundant in
the .intra- and extracellllnr fluids of lie g organisms, and putative neurotransmitter,
or neurohormons, in the bee brain. These biogenic nmlnes act as chemical messengers
and are potential neurotransmitters or nemomodulators in the nervous system (1).
Basically, the following questions have been addressed: .
- Wlli . cl biogenic nmines ad as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, or
neurohormones in different mem ory pbnme, i.e. stomge-retriee ?
- Are the any specific corrçlations between brain areas, distribution of the
biogenic nmines and the various behavioral pattem s e.g. memory retrievel-storage,
sensory modulation, inotor modulation?
- Are the pharmacoloscal proftles and behavioral pattems in memory
storage and retrieval coinddent? .
In honeybees Ge four biogenic amines noradrennline @A), dommine (DA),
s-hydroxytryptsmine (5-HT) and odopnmine (OA) but not epinephrine have been
determined by means of higlt perfornunce liquid chromatopaphy (2, 3). Reœntly,
thele biogenic nml'nes have been intensively investigated using immm ocytochemical
methods in order to gain insight into the distribution of the substanœs in the honeybee
bmin (4, 5).
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