Researchers Uncover Brain-Blood Barrier’s Role in Governing Ant Behavior; Work Sheds Light on Hidden Influence of a Single Enzyme

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been found to play a significant role in controlling behavior critical to how ant colonies function, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The implications of this research on the intricate mechanisms behind ant behavior go beyond the world of ants. The findings, published September 7, 2023 in Cell, hint at similar mechanisms at play in other species, including mammals. The open-access article is titled “Hormonal Gatekeeping Via the Blood-Brain Barrier Governs Caste-Specific Behavior in Ants.”