Behavioral variation correlates with differences in single neuron serotonin receptor subtype expression within and across species

Abstract

(253 words)G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activated by biogenic amines such as serotonin (5-HT) can modulate neuronal signaling and membrane properties. Expression differences in GPCRs could underlie species or individual differences in behaviors. This study examined correlations between behavior and GPCR gene expression in single (which was not peer-reviewed) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.The copyright holder for this preprint . http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/231829 doi: bioRxiv preprint first posted online Dec. 10, 2017; Hermissenda or non-swimming Pleurobranchaea. In contrast, C2 neurons isolated from Hermissenda exhibited higher 5-HT4 and 5-HT6 expression, neither of which was expressed in Tritonia C2 neurons. The results suggest that differences in the expression of particular GPCRs in single neurons could account for differences in behavior both across and within species. This finding has implications for our understanding of the evolution of species-typical behaviors.