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GYRKPPFNGSIFamide (Gly-SIFamide) Modulates Aggression in the Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

¹ Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 365067, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067
² Institute of Neurobiology, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, 201 Blvd Del Valle, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
³ Department of Social Sciences, Cayey Campus, University of Puerto Rico, Cayey, Puerto Rico 00736

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed: E-mail: maria.sosa{at}upr.edu

The freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii is a tropical crustacean with characteristics similar to those of lobsters and crayfish. Adult males develop through three morphological types—small (SC), yellow (YC), and blue claws (BC)—with each representing a level in the dominance hierarchy of a group, BC males being the most dominant. We are interested in understanding the role played by neuropeptides in the mechanisms underlying aggressive behavior and the establishment of dominance hierarchies in this type of prawn. SIFamides are a family of arthropod peptides recently identified in the central nervous system of insects and crustaceans, where it has been linked to olfaction, sexual behavior, and gut endocrine functions. One of the six SIFamide isoforms, GYRKPPFNGSIFamide (Gly-SIFamide), is highly conserved among decapod crustaceans such as crabs and crayfish. We wanted to determine whether Gly-SIFamide plays a role in modulating aggression and dominant behavior in the prawn. To do this, we performed behavioral experiments in which interactions between BC/YC pairs were recorded and quantified before and after injecting Gly-SIFamide directly into the circulating hemolymph of the living animal. Behavioral data showed that aggression among interacting BC/YC prawns was enhanced by injection of Gly-SIFamide, suggesting that this neuropeptide does have a modulatory role for this type of behavior in the prawn.

Abbreviations: Gly-SIFamide, GYRKPPFNGSIFamide • Val-SIFamide, VYRKPPFNGSIFamide • Ala-SIFamide, AYRKPPFNGSIFamide • SC, male small claw • YC, male yellow claw • BC, male blue claw • DI, dominance index