We have examined potential influences of gender, age, and nutrition on the expression of circadian locomotor activity rhythms in the flesh fly Sarcophaga crassipalpis. We found no significant differences in endogenous circadian period under constant dark conditions resulting from gender, nutrition, or age. Male and female flesh flies were predominantly diurnal under light-dark cycles, but their entrainment patterns differed. Females displayed higher activity levels and increasing activity with age, unlike males. Moreover, females exhibited an extraordinary, but transient, departure from diurnality which we characterize as “extended dark activity” (EDA), a continuous bout of locomotor activity extending three hours, or longer, into the dark phase at twice the median of the individual’s overall locomotor activity. EDA occurred as an age-dependent response to liver consumption. Our results suggest a linkage between physiological events associated with egg provisioning and locomotor activity as well as multiple influences on the expression of circadian clock-regulated behavior.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The “risk allocation hypothesis” can predict how prey species will respond to predation risk, balancing vigilance with potentially risky behaviours. In order to maximize fitness, an optimal behavioural repertoire can evolve to respond to predation threat to allow for both survival and future fitness gains. High locomotor activity and time spent engaging in mating behaviours are expected to put Drosophila melanogaster at a greater risk to predation. With direct predator exposure, Drosophila are predicted to reduce activity and mating, which over years of exposure, will be reflected in evolved behavioural traits and evolved changes in the genome. Predation as a selective force shows alterations in flies genomes of experimentally evolved populations. Locomotor activity was found to be reduced in the presence of zebra jumping spiders (Salticus scenicus), presumably due to these spiders as visual hunters, using movement to detect prey. This behaviour is reflected in populations of Drosophila that have been constantly under selection by predators. Flies evolved with spider predators or mantid predators (Tenodera aridifolia sinensis) showed reduced locomotor activity when no predators are present. Interestingly, while alterations are seen for locomotory activity, the presumed risky behaviours of courtship and mating did not show an evolved response. Wild caught populations under threat from spiders, as well as the evolved populations when no predators were present showed no alterations in courtship or copulation behaviour. It appears that although there may be potential risks associated with mating behaviours, the benefits to future fitness when mating outweigh the potential costs from predation risks in Drosophila. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Predation is a profound selective force, with many anti-predator adaptations seen throughout the diversity of life. Antipredatory behavioural adaptations must balance immediate and future fitness effects, to maximize overall fitness. In Drosophila melanogaster, research into natural ecology and role of predation is generally lacking for behavioural & evolutionary studies. I will discuss research on the influence of predator exposure on Drosophila behaviours, as well as the evolution of Drosophila behaviours and genomes through experimentally evolved populations of Drosophila. While predation risk has resulted in changes in Drosophila locomotory activity, predation has not altered mating behaviours.

Master of Science / Department of Psychological Sciences / Mary Cain / Individuals suffering from depression primarily rely on pharmacological interventions to alleviate the incapacitating symptoms of the disorder. In addition to genetic differences underlying the etiology of depression, environmental factors play a key role as well. For example, environmental enrichment results in various neurotransmitter alterations, significantly affecting serotonin. To test the efficacy of novel antidepressant drugs in the preclinical laboratory setting, researchers commonly implement the forced swim test (FST) for rats or mice. However, the effect of environmental enrichment on the expression of depressive-like states in the FST is unclear, and it is unknown whether environmental enrichment or social isolation can alter the efficacy of the commonly prescribed antidepressant drug, fluoxetine. In the present study, locomotor activity and FST performance were measured after 30 days of rearing in enriched (EC), standard (SC), and isolated (IC) conditions. Results showed that regardless of the significant effect of fluoxetine on locomotor activity in EC, SC, and IC rats, fluoxetine failed to increase swimming and decrease immobility in all three environmental conditions, with enriched-fluoxetine rats displaying significantly less swimming behavior in the FST than enriched rats receiving vehicle control injections. These results suggest that differential rearing, specifically environmental enrichment, can alter the efficacy of antidepressants and may suggest that enrichment reverses the effects of fluoxetine.

Methamphetamine is a psychomotor stimulant that produces hyperactivity and euphoria and can lead to drug-seeking and abuse. An estimate from 2005 put the cost of methamphetamine abuse to society at an estimated 23.4 billion dollars. One of methamphetamine's effects is activation of glial cells and associated neuroinflammatory activity in the periphery and CNS. Glia are responsible for maintaining calcium homeostasis, neuroplasticity, immune activity, and cell signaling. Activation of glia and neuroinflammation are becoming recognized as links in drug abuse-related behavior. The goal of the present work was to assess the ability of ibudilast, AV1013, and minocycline, three glial cell modulating compounds, to attenuate responding in rodent procedures that model different aspects of methamphetamine abuse-related behavior. First, Ibudilast (1.8, 7.5, 13 mg/kg) and AV1013 (10, 30, 56 mg/kg) were examined for their effects on methamphetamine-induced (3 mg/kg) locomotor activity and sensitization in mice, the latter thought to involve neurocircuitry common with drug relapse. Ibudilast and AV1013 dose-dependently attenuated methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity and its sensitization. Second, ibudilast (1, 7.5, 10 mg/kg), AV1013 (1, 10, 30 mg/kg), and minocycline (10, 30, 60 mg/kg) were examined for their effects on methamphetamine self-administration (0.001, 0.03, and 0.1 mg/kg/inf) in rats. All three compounds significantly reduced methamphetamine (0.03 mg/kg/inf) self-administration. Results suggested baseline self-administration rate as a possible determinant of these effects; however, follow-up tests with ibudilast while controlling for baseline response rate dismissed this possibility. Additional follow-up tests identified whether the attenuation of operant response rates was specific to methamphetamine-maintained behavior. Using a behavioral economic approach, all three test compounds were determined to also affect non-nutritive banana pellet-maintained responding when the baseline strengths maintained by methamphetamine and banana pellet delivery were matched. Finally, ibudilast was evaluated for its effects on methamphetamine discrimination in rats, a procedure thought to model clinical subjective effects. Ibudilast (1, 7.5, 10 mg/kg) did not significantly modify methamphetamine’s discriminative stimulus effects when trained at either 1 or 0.56 mg/kg. These results support the hypothesis that attenuation of glial cell activity and neuroinflammation may be linked to some abuse-related behaviors of methamphetamine, reinforcing their examination as novel targets for treating methamphetamine abuse.

Doenças como a dengue, chikungunya, Zika e febre amarela urbana são causadas por patógenos transmitidos pela picada de fêmeas infectadas de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus. Fatores bióticos, como a competição na fase larval, e abióticos, como a variação da temperatura, provocam alterações no ciclo de desenvolvimento dessas espécies. O presente estudo avaliou os efeitos da competição intraespecífica e da temperatura na atividade locomotora de fêmeas virgens de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus. Os objetivos do trabalho foram: comparar o tamanho das fêmeas de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus oriundas de criadouros com baixa e alta competição intraespecífica; avaliar o efeito da competição intraespecífica na atividade locomotora de fêmeas virgens de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus, sob regime de 12 horas de claro e 12 horas de escuro, à 25ºC e analisar o padrão da atividade locomotora de fêmeas virgens de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus, sob regime de 12 horas de claro e 12 horas de escuro, sob diferentes temperaturas (20ºC, 25ºC e 30ºC). As colônias dos mosquitos utilizados nos experimentos são provenientes da FIOCRUZ-RJ. Para o experimento de competição, larvas de ambas as espécies foram criadas sob condições de alta (100 larvas) e baixa (20 larvas) densidades. Para isso, foram utilizadas 14 bacias preenchidas com 500 ml de água e 0,2 g de ração para peixes. Após a competição, as fêmeas oriundas de cada densidade foram transferidas para incubadoras para a realização da análise da atividade locomotora. Após a atividade, verificou-se o tamanho dos adultos oriundos de cada densidade larvária, por meio da medição das asas de cada fêmea. Para a análise da atividade locomotora sob diferentes temperaturas, as fêmeas utilizadas foram desenvolvidas em ambiente com quantidade de ovos similares. Foi utilizado o mesmo procedimento para análise da atividade do experimento anterior, porém, cada experimento ocorreu sob diferentes temperaturas: 20°C, 25°C e 30°C. Para a análise dos dados obtidos foram utilizados os testes T e ANOVA multifatorial. Para o experimento de competição, fêmeas de ambas as espécies oriundas de competição de baixa densidade foram maiores do que as oriundas de desenvolvimento sob alta densidade larvária. A atividade das fêmeas de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus de ambas as densidades foi muito semelhante, sugerindo que fêmeas menores tem atividade equivalente à de fêmeas maiores. Já no experimento que avaliou a atividade das fêmeas sob faixas térmicas distintas, notou-se que, em Ae. aegypti, houve diferença significativa na atividade total sob 20°C quando comparadas a 25°C e 30°C, demonstrando que a temperatura mais baixa foi limitante para a atividade desta espécie. Houve diferenças em algumas médias avaliadas na atividade de Ae. albopictus, porém, esta espécie pareceu ter sido menos influenciada com a variação da temperatura. Análises estatísticas confirmaram que as fêmeas de Ae. aegypti respondem de forma distinta das fêmeas de Ae. albopictus quando as temperaturas foram modificadas. O presente estudo ajuda a esclarecer alguns aspectos relacionados ao comportamento dos mosquitos Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus, que são considerados de grande importância para a saúde pública. / Diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika and urban yellow fever are caused by pathogens transmitted by the bites of infected females of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Biotics factors essentially competition on larval stages, and abiotics factors, for instance, temperature variation, occasion adjustments on development cycle of these species. The present study evaluated the effects of intraspecific competition and temperature on locomotor activity of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. The aims of this study were: to compare the size of females Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from breeding sites with low and high intraspecific competition; to evaluate the effect of intraspecific competition on locomotor activity of virgin females of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, under regime of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark at 25°C and to analyze the pattern of the locomotor activity of virgins females of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, under regime of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark, under different temperatures (20ºC, 25ºC e 30ºC). The mosquitoes colonies used on experiment are from FIOCRUZ-RJ. For the competition experiment, larvae from both species were raised under conditions of high (100 larvae) and low (20 larvae) densities. For this 14 containers filled with 500 ml of water and 0,2 g of fish food were used. After the competition, the females from each density were transferred to incubators to perform locomotor activity analysis. After the activity, the size of adult from each larval density, were verified by wings measurement of each female. For the analysis of the locomotor activity under different temperatures, the females used were developed in an environment with similar amount of eggs. The same procedure was used to the analyze the activity of the previous experiment, however, each experiment happened under different temperatures: 20°C, 25°C e 30°C. For the analysis of the obtained data were applied T tests and ANOVA multivariate. For the competition experiment, females of both species from low density of competition were longer than females from competition under high larval density. The activity of females of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from both densities was very similar, suggesting that smaller females have equivalent activity to that of larger females. In the experiment that evaluated the activity of females under different thermal bands, it was noticed that in Ae. aegypti there was significant difference in total activity under 20°C when compared with 25°C and 30°C degrees, demonstrating the lower temperature was limiting to activity for this species. There were differences in some averages evaluated in Ae. albopictus activity, however, this species seemed to have been less influenced with the temperature variation. Statistical analysis confirmed that females of Ae. aegypti respond differently than females of Ae. albopictus when the temperatures were modified. The present study helps to clarify some aspects about the behavior of mosquitoes Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus which are considered of great concern for public health.

Doenças como a dengue, chikungunya, Zika e febre amarela urbana são causadas por patógenos transmitidos pela picada de fêmeas infectadas de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus. Fatores bióticos, como a competição na fase larval, e abióticos, como a variação da temperatura, provocam alterações no ciclo de desenvolvimento dessas espécies. O presente estudo avaliou os efeitos da competição intraespecífica e da temperatura na atividade locomotora de fêmeas virgens de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus. Os objetivos do trabalho foram: comparar o tamanho das fêmeas de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus oriundas de criadouros com baixa e alta competição intraespecífica; avaliar o efeito da competição intraespecífica na atividade locomotora de fêmeas virgens de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus, sob regime de 12 horas de claro e 12 horas de escuro, à 25ºC e analisar o padrão da atividade locomotora de fêmeas virgens de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus, sob regime de 12 horas de claro e 12 horas de escuro, sob diferentes temperaturas (20ºC, 25ºC e 30ºC). As colônias dos mosquitos utilizados nos experimentos são provenientes da FIOCRUZ-RJ. Para o experimento de competição, larvas de ambas as espécies foram criadas sob condições de alta (100 larvas) e baixa (20 larvas) densidades. Para isso, foram utilizadas 14 bacias preenchidas com 500 ml de água e 0,2 g de ração para peixes. Após a competição, as fêmeas oriundas de cada densidade foram transferidas para incubadoras para a realização da análise da atividade locomotora. Após a atividade, verificou-se o tamanho dos adultos oriundos de cada densidade larvária, por meio da medição das asas de cada fêmea. Para a análise da atividade locomotora sob diferentes temperaturas, as fêmeas utilizadas foram desenvolvidas em ambiente com quantidade de ovos similares. Foi utilizado o mesmo procedimento para análise da atividade do experimento anterior, porém, cada experimento ocorreu sob diferentes temperaturas: 20°C, 25°C e 30°C. Para a análise dos dados obtidos foram utilizados os testes T e ANOVA multifatorial. Para o experimento de competição, fêmeas de ambas as espécies oriundas de competição de baixa densidade foram maiores do que as oriundas de desenvolvimento sob alta densidade larvária. A atividade das fêmeas de Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus de ambas as densidades foi muito semelhante, sugerindo que fêmeas menores tem atividade equivalente à de fêmeas maiores. Já no experimento que avaliou a atividade das fêmeas sob faixas térmicas distintas, notou-se que, em Ae. aegypti, houve diferença significativa na atividade total sob 20°C quando comparadas a 25°C e 30°C, demonstrando que a temperatura mais baixa foi limitante para a atividade desta espécie. Houve diferenças em algumas médias avaliadas na atividade de Ae. albopictus, porém, esta espécie pareceu ter sido menos influenciada com a variação da temperatura. Análises estatísticas confirmaram que as fêmeas de Ae. aegypti respondem de forma distinta das fêmeas de Ae. albopictus quando as temperaturas foram modificadas. O presente estudo ajuda a esclarecer alguns aspectos relacionados ao comportamento dos mosquitos Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus, que são considerados de grande importância para a saúde pública. / Diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika and urban yellow fever are caused by pathogens transmitted by the bites of infected females of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Biotics factors essentially competition on larval stages, and abiotics factors, for instance, temperature variation, occasion adjustments on development cycle of these species. The present study evaluated the effects of intraspecific competition and temperature on locomotor activity of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. The aims of this study were: to compare the size of females Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from breeding sites with low and high intraspecific competition; to evaluate the effect of intraspecific competition on locomotor activity of virgin females of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, under regime of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark at 25°C and to analyze the pattern of the locomotor activity of virgins females of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, under regime of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark, under different temperatures (20ºC, 25ºC e 30ºC). The mosquitoes colonies used on experiment are from FIOCRUZ-RJ. For the competition experiment, larvae from both species were raised under conditions of high (100 larvae) and low (20 larvae) densities. For this 14 containers filled with 500 ml of water and 0,2 g of fish food were used. After the competition, the females from each density were transferred to incubators to perform locomotor activity analysis. After the activity, the size of adult from each larval density, were verified by wings measurement of each female. For the analysis of the locomotor activity under different temperatures, the females used were developed in an environment with similar amount of eggs. The same procedure was used to the analyze the activity of the previous experiment, however, each experiment happened under different temperatures: 20°C, 25°C e 30°C. For the analysis of the obtained data were applied T tests and ANOVA multivariate. For the competition experiment, females of both species from low density of competition were longer than females from competition under high larval density. The activity of females of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from both densities was very similar, suggesting that smaller females have equivalent activity to that of larger females. In the experiment that evaluated the activity of females under different thermal bands, it was noticed that in Ae. aegypti there was significant difference in total activity under 20°C when compared with 25°C and 30°C degrees, demonstrating the lower temperature was limiting to activity for this species. There were differences in some averages evaluated in Ae. albopictus activity, however, this species seemed to have been less influenced with the temperature variation. Statistical analysis confirmed that females of Ae. aegypti respond differently than females of Ae. albopictus when the temperatures were modified. The present study helps to clarify some aspects about the behavior of mosquitoes Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus which are considered of great concern for public health.

Diversas populações de Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus) têm mostrado resistência a muitos inseticidas químicos, empregados no controle desse vetor de arboviroses como dengue, chikungunya, Zika e febre amarela urbana. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar quantitativamente a atividade locomotora de cinco populações de Ae. aegypti do Estado de São Paulo, com diferentes perfis de resistências a inseticidas, sendo Campinas e Marília suscetíveis, Santos, Ribeirão Preto e Barretos resistentes e uma linhagem controle Rockefeller. Além disso, foram feitas comparações entre as populações testadas e verificado se populações com perfis de resistência a inseticidas não aumentaram a atividade locomotora. A atividade locomotora das populações foi avaliada e aquelas classificadas como resistentes, mostraram um aumento da atividade locomotora em relação ao grupo controle, exceto a população de Barretos em relação a Rockefeller de 2016 (KW; p = 0,05). As populações suscetíveis de Campinas e Marília, diferentemente de 2016, apresentaram um padrão de atividade locomotora semelhante ao da população resistente de Santos, em 2017 (Dunn; z = 1,46; p = 0,11 | z = 0,33; p = 0,71). Desta forma, populações de Ae. aegypti do Estado de São Paulo, com resistência a inseticida, mostraram um aumento na atividade locomotora, e experimentos realizados em diferentes anos mostraram uma mudança no perfil populacional de Campinas e Marília quanto à resistência a inseticida, de acordo com a atividade locomotora avaliada. / Several populations of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus) have shown resistance to many chemical insecticides, which are used to control this vector of arboviruses such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika and urban yellow fever. The present study had as objective to quantitatively evaluate the locomotor activity of five populations of Ae. aegypti of the State of São Paulo, with different insecticide resistance profiles, being Campinas and Marília as susceptible, Santos, Ribeirão Preto and Barretos as resistant and Rockefeller control strain. In addition, comparisons were made between the populations tested, and it was verified that populations with profiles of insecticide resistance did not increase locomotor activity. The locomotor activity of the populations was evaluated and those classified as resistant showed an increase in locomotor activity in relation to the control group, except the population of Barretos in relation to Rockefeller of 2016 (KW; p = 0.05). Populations susceptible to Campinas and Marília, differently from 2016, showed a pattern of locomotor activity similar to Santos resistant population in 2017 (Dunn; z = 1,46, p = 0,11 | z = 0,33, p = 0.71). This way, populations of Ae. aegypti from the State of São Paulo, with resistance to insecticide, showed an increase in locomotor activity, and experiments carried out in different years showed a change in the population profile of Campinas and Marília regarding insecticide resistance, according to the locomotor activity evaluated.