Wang Huixin, Zhang Mengdan, Gao Xiaoyan, Wang Kai, Xie Guiying, An Shiheng, Chen Wenbo, Zhao Xincheng
Henan International Joint Laboratory of Green Pest Control, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Pest Manag Sci. 2025 Sep;81(9):5160-5172. doi: 10.1002/ps.8870. Epub 2025 May 13.
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is an important biogenic amine in insects, which regulates and controls many important physiological and behavioral processes by binding to different G protein-coupled receptors. The physiological functions of 5-HT and its receptors in olfactory learning and memory, courtship, and mating behaviors, have been reported in the model insect Drosophila melanogaster. However, little is known about the molecular properties, pharmacological characterization, and physiological functions of 5-HT receptors in the important agricultural pest Helicoverpa armigera.
In this study, 5-HT receptor gene was identified for the first time in H. armigera. Bioinformatics analysis showed that H. armigera 5-HT shared a higher homology with 5-HT from Spodoptera litura and Mythimna separata. The expression profile showed that Harm5-HT receptor gene is highly expressed in the larval and adult developmental stages, and is mainly expressed in the gut of the larva, and is male-biased expressed in antennae and labial palps. Moreover, we investigated the pharmacological characterization of Harm5-HT receptor, 5-HT could activate the Harm5-HT receptor and increase the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in a dose-dependent manner [half maximal effective concentration (EC) = 0.54 μM]. In addition, we investigated the function of Harm5-HT through in vivo pharmacological and RNA interference methodology. The results showed that interference of Harm5-HT signaling pathway caused defects in pheromone sensitivity and mating behavior of male H. armigera.
Our results provide the first comprehensive understanding of the pharmacological characterization and functional roles of the Harm5-HT receptor in olfactory sensitivity and mating behavior of male H. armigera. Our findings may facilitate the identification of potential target genes or chemical compounds for application in the mating disruption control of H. armigera. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
血清素（5-羟色胺，5-HT）是昆虫体内一种重要的生物胺，它通过与不同的G蛋白偶联受体结合来调节和控制许多重要的生理和行为过程。在模式昆虫黑腹果蝇中，已经报道了5-HT及其受体在嗅觉学习和记忆、求偶和交配行为中的生理功能。然而，对于重要农业害虫棉铃虫中5-HT受体的分子特性、药理学特征和生理功能知之甚少。
在本研究中，首次在棉铃虫中鉴定出5-HT受体基因。生物信息学分析表明，棉铃虫5-HT与斜纹夜蛾和黏虫的5-HT具有较高的同源性。表达谱显示，Harm5-HT受体基因在幼虫和成虫发育阶段高表达，主要在幼虫肠道中表达，在触角和唇须中雄性偏向表达。此外，我们研究了Harm5-HT受体的药理学特征，5-HT可以激活Harm5-HT受体并以剂量依赖方式增加环磷酸腺苷（cAMP）的产生[半数最大有效浓度（EC）=0.54μM]。此外，我们通过体内药理学和RNA干扰方法研究了Harm5-HT的功能。结果表明，干扰Harm5-HT信号通路会导致雄性棉铃虫的性信息素敏感性和交配行为出现缺陷。
我们的结果首次全面了解了Harm5-HT受体在雄性棉铃虫嗅觉敏感性和交配行为中的药理学特征和功能作用。我们的发现可能有助于识别潜在的靶基因或化合物，用于棉铃虫的交配干扰防治。© 2025化学工业协会。
