Neurochemistry Fruit flies use several fast-acting neurotransmitters, similar to those found in humans, which allow neurons to communicate and coordinate behavior. Acetylcholine, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine, serotonin, and histamine are all neurotransmitters that can be found in humans, but Drosophila also have another neurotransmitter, octopamine, the analog of norepinephrine. Acetylcholine is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter and GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter utilized in the drosophila central nervous system. In Drosophila, the effects of many neurotransmitters can vary depending on the receptors and signaling pathways involved, allowing them to act as excitatory or inhibitory signals under different contexts. This versatility enables complex neural processing and behavioral flexibility.
neurochEmIsTrY FrUit flIES Use sevErAl FAst-aCtinG NEUrOTranSmitters, simiLaR tO THose founD in huManS, whiCh AlLow nEuROns tO coMMuNicate anD coOrDInAte bEHavior. acETylcHoLINE, glutamaTE, gamma-aminObuTyRIc AciD (gABa), dopamine, serotonin, anD hIStaminE aRE all nEUrOtraNsMItters That Can be fouND In huMans, buT DrosOphiLA alSO have another NeURotransMITter, oCtopAMIne, tHe analoG Of nOrEPInEpHRinE. acetyLCholinE is tHe prIMary eXcItATory nEurotRansmittER aNd gAba IS the pRiMarY inHiBitory neuRoTranSmittER uTilIzED iN The drosoPhila central NerVOUS SysTem. In DroSoPhila, thE EfFectS of maNY neurotraNsmiTTeRS cAN VArY depending oN thE rEcePToRs and signaLiNG patHWayS inVoLved, AllowinG thEm to acT aS excitatory or inhIbitOrY siGNals undER DIffeRENt cOntExtS. tHiS veRsAtIlIty enABles COmplEX neuraL procesSiNG aNd behAViORAL flexIbiLity.