Glutamate Neurotransmission in the Honey Bee Central Nervous System

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that a glutamatergic neurotransmission is present in the honey bee central nervous system. Besides the localization of glutamate in the brain, membrane and vesicular glutamate transporters as well as specific receptors have been characterized. Glutamate receptors homologous to their vertebrate counterparts (NMDA, non-NMDA and metabotropic) have been identified. In addition, there are inhibitory currents mediated by glutamate-gated chloride channels, specific to invertebrates. Glutamate neurotransmission is widespread in the brain, but it is probably less important in the mushroom body. Several studies show that the activation of different components of the neurotransmission is required during or shortly after conditioning for the formation of specific memory phases. In addition, different regions of the brain are differently implicated in memory processes.