Dopamine mediates the link between aggressive behavior and biogenic amine receptor genes in mud crab <italic style="font-style: italic">Scylla paramamosain</italic>

Yuanyuan FU; Xinlian HUANG; Lei LIU; Wei ZHAI; Sixiang WANG; Congying HE

doi:10.1007/s00343-025-4176-3

Your Location：

Home >

Browse articles >

Dopamine mediates the link between aggressive behavior and biogenic amine receptor genes in mud crab Scylla paramamosain

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Updated：2025-10-16

- Dopamine mediates the link between aggressive behavior and biogenic amine receptor genes in mud crab Scylla paramamosain
- Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Vol. 43, Issue 5, Pages: 1654-1667(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  1.School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
  2.Ningbo Institute of Oceanography, Ningbo 315832, China
- Author bio：
  
  liulei1@nbu.edu.cn
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s00343-025-4176-3
  CLC：
- Received：06 September 2024，
  
  Accepted：24 October 2024，
  
  Online First：16 December 2024，
  
  Published：01 September 2025
- Accepted：
Scan QR Code
FU Yuanyuan,HUANG Xinlian,LIU Lei,et al.Dopamine mediates the link between aggressive behavior and biogenic amine receptor genes in mud crab Scylla paramamosain[J].Journal of Oceanology and Limnology,2025,43(05):1654-1667.
DOI：

FU Yuanyuan,HUANG Xinlian,LIU Lei,et al.Dopamine mediates the link between aggressive behavior and biogenic amine receptor genes in mud crab Scylla paramamosain[J].Journal of Oceanology and Limnology,2025,43(05):1654-1667. DOI： 10.1007/s00343-025-4176-3.

摘要

Abstract

Intraspecific conflict induced by the innate aggressiveness is one of the main reasons for the extremely low survival rate in mud crab

Scylla

paramamosain

aquaculture

which have impeded the sustainable culture of the species. In this study

we first classified and quantified the aggressive behavior

and established a crab aggressive behavior model

laying the foundation for subsequent research on evaluating combat intensity. The contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)

dopamine (DA)

and cAMP in the hemolymph of the mud crabs before and after fighting were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS)

and the mud crabs exhibited a significant increase of 5-HT (

0.05)

while the DA and cAMP decreased significantly (

0.05). In addition

we applied EthoVision to examine the changes of the crab behavior after DA administration. After 0.5 h of injection

the movement speed

distance

duration of aggressive behavior

and intensity of aggression in the high concentration DA group were significantly higher than those in the saline injection group and the untreated control group (

0.05). The results of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the expression of DA1 in the thoracic ganglia of the mud crabs was significantly down-regulated in the DA injection group

and the aggressive behavior was weakened. Conversely

DA1 expression was up-regulated when aggressive behavior was strengthened. Besides

there were significant differences in the expression levels of receptor expression genes including

5-HT1

5-HT2

and crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) in different tissues

indicating that the alteration of aggressive behavior of the mud crab after injection with different concentrations of DA could be regulated by changes in the expression levels of corresponding receptor genes. Our results contribute to a deeper analysis of the aggressive behavior mechanism of the mud crabs and provide a theoretical basis for reducing fighting-related mortalities in aquaculture.

关键词

Keywords

references

Ago Y , Hasebe S , Hiramatsu N et al . 2017 . Psychopharmacology of combined activation of the serotonin 1A and σ 1 receptors . European Journal of Pharmacology , 809 : 172 - 177 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.05.035 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.05.035 .

Aquiloni L , Giulianini P G , Mosco A et al . 2012 . Crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (cHH) as a modulator of aggression in crustacean decapods . PLoS One , 7 ( 11 ): e 50047 , https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0050047 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0050047 .

Bacqué-Cazenave J , Cattaert D , Delbecque J P et al . 2018 . Alteration of size perception: serotonin has opposite effects on the aggressiveness of crayfish confronting either a smaller or a larger rival . Journal of Experimental Biology , 221 ( 12 ): jeb 177840 , https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.177840 https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.177840 .

Bortolato M , Pivac N , Seler D M et al . 2013 . The role of the serotonergic system at the interface of aggression and suicide . Neuroscience , 236 : 160 - 185 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.01.015 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.01.015 .

Boyd K N , Mailman R B . 2012 . Dopamine receptor signaling and current and future antipsychotic drugs . In: Gross G, Geyer M A eds. Current Antipsychotics . Springer, Berlin . p. 53 - 86 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25761-2_3 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25761-2_3 .

De Boer S F , Koolhaas J M . 2005 . 5-HT 1A and 5-HT 1B receptor agonists and aggression: a pharmacological challenge of the serotonin deficiency hypothesis . European Journal of Pharmacology , 526 ( 1-3 ): 125 - 139 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2005.09.065 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2005.09.065 .

Duan Y F , Wu X L , Wang T et al . 2013 . Research progress on the correlations of aggressive behavior with serotonin and dopamine . Chinese Bulletin of Life Sciences , 25 ( 10 ): 1027 - 1035 , https://doi.org/10.13376/j.cbls/2013.10.006. https://doi.org/10.13376/j.cbls/2013.10.006. (in Chinese with English abstract)

Fingerman M , Fingerman S W . 1977 . Antagonistic actions of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine on color changes in the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Comparative Pharmacology , 58 ( 2 ): 121 - 127 , https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4492(77)90091-0 https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4492(77)90091-0 .

Fong P P , Ford A T . 2014 . The biological effects of antidepressants on the molluscs and crustaceans: a review . Aquatic Toxicology , 151 : 4 - 13 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2013.12.003 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2013.12.003 .

Guo X J , Ma Z Y , Kang L . 2015 . Two dopamine receptors play different roles in phase change of the migratory locust. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience , 9 : 80 , https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00080 https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00080 .

Huang X L , Fu Y Y , Zhai W et al . 2023 . Identification an d characterization of 5-HT receptor 1 from Scylla paramamosain : the essential roles of 5-HT and its receptor gene during aggressive behavior in crab species . International Journal of Molecular Sciences , 24 ( 4 ): 4211 , https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24044211 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24044211 .

Huber R , Panksepp J B , Yue Z et al . 2001 . Dynamic interactions of behavior and amine neurochemistry in acquisition and maintenance of social rank in crayfish . Brain, Behavior and Evolution , 57 ( 5 ): 271 - 282 , https://doi.org/10.1159/000047245 https://doi.org/10.1159/000047245 .

Huber R . 2005 . Amines and motivated behaviors: a simpler systems approach to complex behavioral phenomena . Journal of Comparative Physiology A , 191 ( 3 ): 231 - 239 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-004-0585-5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-004-0585-5 .

Knell R J . 2009 . Population density and the evolution of male aggression . Journal of Zoology , 278 ( 2 ): 83 - 90 , https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00566.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00566.x .

Kravitz E A . 1988 . Hormonal control of behavior: amines and the biasing of behavioral output in lobsters . Science , 241 ( 4874 ): 1775 - 1781 , https://doi.org/10.1126/science.2902685 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.2902685 .

Laranja J L Q , Quinitio E T , Catacutan M R et al . 2010 . Effects of dietary L -tryptophan on the agonistic behavior, growth and survival of juvenile mud crab Scylla serrata . Aquaculture , 310 ( 1-2 ): 84 - 90 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2010.09.038 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2010.09.038 .

Lee S H C , Taylor K , Krasne F B . 2008 . Reciprocal stimulation of decay between serotonergic facilitation and depression of synaptic transmission . Journal of Neurophysiology , 100 ( 2 ): 1113 - 1126 , https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.90267.2008 https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.90267.2008 .

Li K , Chen X H , Jia Y et al . 2004 . Reverse-phase HPLC determination and pharmacokinetic study of vanillic acid in the plasma of rats treated with the traditional Chinese medicinal preparation Di-Gu-Pi decoction . Yakugaku Zasshi , 124 ( 7 ): 465 - 468 , https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.124.465 https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.124.465 .

Livak K J , Schmittgen T D . 2001 . Analysis of relative gene expression data using real-time quantitative PCR and the 2 -ΔΔ C t method . Methods , 25 ( 4 ): 402 - 408 , https://doi.org/10.1006/meth.2001.1262 https://doi.org/10.1006/meth.2001.1262 .

Momohara Y , Kanai A , Nagayama T . 2013 . Aminergic control of social status in crayfish agonistic encounters . PLoS One , 8 ( 9 ): e 74489 , https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0074489 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0074489 .

Northcutt A J , Lett K M , Garcia V B et al . 2016 . Deep sequencing of transcriptomes from the nervous systems of two decapod crustaceans to characterize genes important for neural circuit function and modulation . BMC Genomics , 17 ( 1 ): 868 , https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-016-3215-z https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-016-3215-z .

Oka S I , Tomita T , Miyamoto K . 2016 . A mighty claw: pinching force of the coconut crab, the largest terrestrial crustacean . PLoS One , 11 ( 11 ): e 0166108 , https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0166108 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0166108 .

Oliveira R F , Silva J F , Simões J M . 2011 . Fighting zebrafish: characterization of aggressive behavior and winner-loser effects . Zebrafish , 8 ( 2 ): 73 - 81 , https://doi.org/10.1089/zeb.2011.0690 https://doi.org/10.1089/zeb.2011.0690 .

Pang Y Y , Song Y M , Zhang L et al . 2019 . 5-HT2B, 5-HT7, and DA2 receptors mediate the effects of 5-HT and DA on agonistic behavior of the Chinese mitten crab ( Eriocheir sinensis ) . ACS Chemical Neuroscience , 10 ( 11 ): 4502 - 4510 , https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00342 https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00342 .

Rodgers E W , Krenz W D , Jiang X Y et al . 2013 . Dopaminergic tone regulates transient potassium current maximal conductance through a translational mechanism requiring D1Rs, cAMP/PKA, Erk and mTOR . BMC Neuroscience . 14 ( 1 ): 143 , https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2202-14-143 https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2202-14-143 .

Romano N , Zeng C S . 2017 . Cannibalism of decapod crustaceans and implications for their aquaculture: a review of its prevalence, influencing factors, and mitigating methods . Reviews in Fisheries Science Aquaculture , 25 ( 1 ): 42 - 69 , https://doi.org/10.1080/23308249.2016.1221379 https://doi.org/10.1080/23308249.2016.1221379 .

Sanda T , Shimizu T , Dan S et al . 2022 . Temperature tolerance of juveniles of two mud crab species, Scylla paramamosain and Scylla serrata (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunidae) . Crustacean Research , 51 : 129 - 135 , https://doi.org/10.18353/crustacea.51.0_129 https://doi.org/10.18353/crustacea.51.0_129 .

Shen Y , Lai Q . 1994 . Present status of mangrove crab ( Scylla serrata (Forskal)) culture in China . Naga , 17 ( 1 ): 28 - 29 , https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/2874 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/2874 .

Smallegange I M , Sabelis M W , Van Der Meer J . 2007 . Assessment games in shore crab fights . Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology , 351 ( 1-2 ): 255 - 266 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2007.07.004 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2007.07.004 .

Sneddon L U , Taylor A C , Huntingford F A et al . 2000 . Agonistic behaviour and biogenic amines in shore crabs Carcinus maenas . Journal of Experimental Biology , 203 ( 3 ): 537 - 545 , https://doi.org/10.1242/JEB.203.3.537 https://doi.org/10.1242/JEB.203.3.537 .

Takano M , Barinova A , Sugaya T et al . 2005 . Isolation and characterization of microsatellite DNA markers from mangrove crab, Scylla paramamosain . Molecular Ecology Notes , 5 ( 4 ): 794 - 795 , https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-8286.2005.01065.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-8286.2005.01065.x .

Tinikul Y , Poljaroen J , Kornthong N et al . 2011 . Distribution and changes of serotonin and dopamine levels in the central nervous system and ovary of the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei , during ovarian maturation cycle . Cell and Tissue Research , 345 ( 1 ): 103 - 124 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-011-1176-8 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-011-1176-8 .

Weitekamp C A , Nguyen J , Hofmann H A . 2017 . Social context affects behavior, preoptic area gene expression, and response to D2 receptor manipulation during territorial defense in a cichlid fish . Genes, Brain and Behavior , 16 ( 6 ): 601 - 611 , https://doi.org/10.1111/gbb.12389 https://doi.org/10.1111/gbb.12389 .

Winberg S , Thörnqvist P O . 2016 . Role of brain serotonin in modulating fish behavior . Current Zoology , 62 ( 3 ): 317 - 323 , https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zow037 https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zow037 .

Wu B , Zhang S , Zhang C et al . 2022 . Preliminary study on the regulation of agonistic behavior of Portunus trituberculatus by exogenous 5-HT and DA . Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica , 53 ( 1 ): 168 - 175 , https://doi.org/10.11693/hyhz20210600132. https://doi.org/10.11693/hyhz20210600132. (in Chinese with English abstract)

Wu B , Zhao C P , Xiong Z T et al . 2021 . Analysis of the agonistic behaviour and behaviour pattern of Portunus trituberculatus . Aquaculture Research , 52 ( 2 ): 2233 , https://doi.org/10.1111/are.15075 https://doi.org/10.1111/are.15075 .

Yang X Z , Pang Y Y , Huang G Y et al . 2019 . The serotonin or dopamine by cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase a pathway involved in the agonistic behaviour of Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis . Physiology Behavior , 209 : 112621 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112621 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112621 .

Zhang J L , Zhang C N , Sun P et al . 2016 . Tributyltin affects shoaling and anxiety behavior in female rare minnow ( Gobiocypris rarus ) . Aquatic Toxicology , 178 : 80 - 87 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.07.007 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.07.007 .

Zhang L , Pan L Q , Xu L J et al . 2018 . Effects of ammonia-N exposure on the concentrations of neurotransmitters, hemocyte intracellular signaling pathways and immune responses in white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei . Fish Shellfish Immunology , 75 : 48 - 57 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2018.01.046 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2018.01.046 .

Zhu F , Fu Y Y , Mu C K et al . 2018 . Molecular cloning, characterization and effects of catechol- o -methyltransferase (comt) mrna and protein on aggressive behavior in the swimming crab portunus trituberculatus . Aquaculture , 495 : 693 - 702 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.06.055 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.06.055 .

Views

Downloads

CSCD

Alert me when the article has been cited

Submit

Tools

Publicity Resources

Transcriptomic insights into the adaptive mechanisms of antennal glands in mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) to acute chloride-type low-salinity alkaline water stress

Correlation of gut microorganisms and non-volatile flavor substances provides new insights for breeding Scylla paramamosain

Effects of pyraclostrobin on growth, oxidative stress, and gene expression in relation to stress and ATP-binding cassette transporters in Tetrahymena thermophila

Effects of acute and chronic thermal stress on survival, apoptosis, and transcriptional responses of Scapharcabroughtonii

Crack Growth Rate Model Based on Modal Frequencyfor a V-Notched Beam

Related Author

Lei LIU

Huan WANG

Jinwei WANG

Xiaosong JIANG

Changkao MU

Chunlin WANG

Changkao MU

Xing LI

Related Institution

School of Marine Science, Ningbo University

Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory

Key Laboratory of Aquacultral Biotechnology Ministry of Education, Ningbo University

Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Ningbo University

College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University

Address：Editorial Office of JOL, 88 Haijun Rd. Qingdao, 266000, China
Tel：+86-532-82898754 Email：jol@qdio.ac.cn
Technical support is provided by Beijing Founder electronics co., LTD 京ICP备09064830号-19 京公网安备11010802024621
It is recommended to read the content of this site in Chrome&IE9+. Please switch to extreme mode in browser 360.
Cookies We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content. By continuing, you agree to the use of cookies.

⁰

Dopamine mediates the link between aggressive behavior and biogenic amine receptor genes in mud crab Scylla paramamosain

DOI：10.1007/s00343-025-4176-3

摘要

Abstract

关键词

Keywords

references