Octopamine regulates neural circuits in the mushroom body and central complex, influencing sleep and arousal

iScience 2026 Open access

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Authors: Martin Reyes, Yi Shen Lee, Maria Muhammad Ali, Preeti Sundaramurthi, Namrata Dhungana, Amanda Nguyen, Thomas Zimmerman, Sara Capponi, Divya Sitaraman
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115564
Cited by: 4
References: 81

Abstract

to investigate how specific octopamine (OA) neurons regulate sleep and arousal. We focus on a pair of OA neurons, VPM3, which project broadly to the mushroom body (MB) and central complex (CX). We find that VPM3 neurons are sexually monomorphic, required for sleep suppression and male courtship, and modulated by sleep history. In addition, the male-specific fruitless isoform in these neurons is necessary for sleep regulation. Combining connectomics with targeted genetic manipulations, we identify key inputs from the CX, MB-mediated downstream pathways, and OA receptor signaling that together reveal how OA circuits coordinate sleep and arousal states.

Fields of Study & Subjects

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Publication details

Journal / source
iScience
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
29
Issue
5
Pages
115564–115564
Publication date
2 April 2026
Language
EN