Document type
Other
Document subtype
Preprint
Title
Neuro-molecular characterization of fish cleaning interactions
Participants in the publication
Sandra Ramirez-Calero (Author)
Jose Ricardo Paula (Author)
MARE
Eve Otjacques (Author)
Dep. Biologia Animal
MARE
Rui Rosa (Author)
Dep. Biologia Animal
MARE
Timothy Ravasi (Author)
Celia Schunter (Author)
Summary
Coral reef fish exhibit a large variety of behaviours crucial for fitness and survival. The cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus displays cognitive abilities during interspecific interactions by providing services of ectoparasite cleaning, thus serving as a good model to understand the processes of complex social behaviour. However, little is known about the molecular underpinnings of cooperative behaviour between L. dimidiatus and a potential client fish (Acanthurus leucosternon). Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanisms in three regions of the brain (fore-, mid-, and hindbrain) during the interaction of these fishes. Here we show, using transcriptomics, that most of the transcriptional response in both species was regulated in the hindbrain and forebrain regions and that the interacting behaviour responses of L. dimidiatus involved immediate early gene alteration, dopaminergic and glutamatergic pathways, the expression of neurohormones (such as isotocin) and steroids (e.g. progesterone and estrogen), as well as social decision-making genes. In contrast, in the client, fewer molecular alterations were found, mostly involving pituitary hormone responses. The particular pathways found suggested learning and memory processes in the cleaner wrasse, while the client indicated stress relief and a reduction in aggression.
Date of Publication
2021-06-23
Institution
FACULDADE DE CIÊNCIAS DA UNIVERSIDADE DE LISBOA
Where published
bioRxiv
Publication Identifiers
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Document Identifiers
DOI -
https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.22.449532
URL -
http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.22.449532
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