Octopamine controls starvation resistance, life span and metabolic traits in Drosophila

Abstract

The monoamines octopamine (OA) and tyramine (TA) modulate numerous behaviours and physiological processes in invertebrates. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether these invertebrate counterparts of norepinephrine are important regulators of metabolic and life history traits. We show that flies (Drosophila melanogaster) lacking OA are more resistant to starvation, while their overall life span is substantially reduced compared with control flies. In addition, these animals have increased body fat deposits, reduced physical activity and a reduced metabolic resting rate. Increasing the release of OA from internal stores induced the opposite effects. Flies devoid of both OA and TA had normal body fat and metabolic rates, suggesting that OA and TA act antagonistically. Moreover, OA-deficient flies show increased insulin release rates. We inferred that the OA-mediated control of insulin release accounts for a substantial proportion of the alterations observed in these flies. Apparently, OA levels control the balance between thrifty and expenditure metabolic modes. Thus, changes in OA levels in response to external and internal signals orchestrate behaviour and metabolic processes to meet physiological needs. Moreover, chronic deregulation of the corresponding signalling systems in humans may be associated with metabolic disorders, such as obesity or diabetes.

Gene expression profiling across ontogenetic stages in the wood white (Leptidea sinapis) reveals pathways linked to butterfly diapause regulation

“…In the Chinese oak silkmoth ( Antheraea pernyi ), both dopamine and melatonin have been shown to be involved in diapause termination (Wang, Hanatani, Takeda, Oishi, & Sakamoto, ; Wang, Egi, et al., ). In Drosophila , low concentration of octopamine, a dopamine catabolite functionally equivalent to the vertebrate neurotransmitter norepinephrine (Roeder, ), has been linked with increased body fat, higher starvation resistance, reduced glucose release (energy expenditures), and a general slowdown of metabolic processes (Li et al., ). High dopamine concentration and a sharp reduction on the rate of dopamine metabolism have been associated to the onset of diapause in some insects (Houk & Beck, ; Isabel et al., ).…”

Nutritional regimens with periodically recurring phases of dietary restriction extend lifespan in Drosophila

“…One candidate hormone that may transduce nutritional stress signals into reduced insulin release is octopamine (58). This monoamine, the invertebrate counterpart of norepinephrine, is released in times of stress (59) (presumably also during nutrient stress) and potently inhibits insulin release (60). Hormones or cytokines produced by the fat body, the major storage organ of the fly, also regulate insulin secretion (61).…”

Drosophilaas a model to study obesity and metabolic disease

“…In addition to these neuropeptides (reviewed in Schoofs et al, 2017) and metabolites, neurotransmitters/neurohormones such as octopamine (the fly equivalent of norepinephrine) are instrumental for body fat control in the CNS. Lack of octopamine causes a reduced metabolic rate and increased obesity in flies (Li et al, 2016b).…”