The presence of β-phenylethylamine,p-tyramine,m-tyramine and tryptamine in ganglia and foot muscle of the garden snail (Helix aspersa)

Abstract

Experientia 40 (1984), Birkhfiuser Verlag, CH-5010 Basel/Switzerland 549 lite of DHA, fr. 5, was in addition recrystallized to constant isotope ratio (table 2). In all 30-min DHA incubations carried out either without cofactors or with NADP the main metabolite was androstenedione. The utilization of the substrate by A53/~HSD was increased when NADP was added in both experimental groups. The recovery of androstenedione, however, was higher in the incubations performed during breeding, suggesting increased A 53flHSD activity in the testicular tissue of these animals. When the incubation time was doubled to 1 h and NADP/ NADPH added in equimolar concentrations, testosterone was found as the main metabolite of DHA during breeding but not after breeding.Comparable observations were made when androstenedione was used as the substrate. In the 1-h incubations with NADP/ NADPH testosterone was produced in the same proportions as in DHA incubations and the production declined similarly after breeding. These observations suggest that the activity of 17flHSD may be regulated for the needs of testicular androgen production leading to the increased testosterone formation during breeding. Previous studies in other urodele Amphibia (Pleurodeles waltlii, Triturus cristatus carnifex) have also demonstrated that testosterone is the major androgen produced in vitro by the testis 2, 3. In peripheral plasma of Ambystoma tigrinum, Pseudoeyrycea smithi12 Necturus maculosus ~3 5a-DHT can be found in relatively minor amounts compared to testosterone. In accordance with these findings 5a-or 5fl-DHT were not found in our studies. On the other hand testicular tissue of anuran species has been found to form large amounts of 5a-DHT from exogenous precursors during breeding 1,4,6,7. This ability differs therefore from that observed in urodele Amphibia and among all other orders of vertebrates 6,~4. In conclusion the formation of biologically active androgens from DHA and androstenedione in testicular homogenates of T. vulgaris showed a clearcut variation between breeding, aquatic newts and non-breeding, terrestrial newts. The difference was most distinct in relation to 17flHSD activity. Testosterone was quantitatively the most important metabolite of both substrates during breeding.Summary. The concentrations of fl-phenylethylamine, p-tyramine, m-tyramine, m-octopamine and tryptamine in the ganglia or foot muscle of Helix aspersa range from < 0.6 to 11 ng/g. p-Octopamine levels are higher in ganglia (327 ng/g) than in foot muscle (4.1 ng/g). Dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine range from 840 to 2710 ng/g while their acid metabolites, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid range from < 20 to 130 ng/g. It has been known for quite some time that the ganglia of gastropods contain relatively high concentrations of dopamine (DA) or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 3 5, and this has been confirmed by a histochemical fluorescence technique 6. In addition, snail ganglia contain relatively large concen...

2‐Phenylethylamine: A Modulator of Catecholamine Transmission in the Mammalian Central Nervous System?

“…PE, a monoamine, has been found in low concentrations in the nervous tissue of all vertebrate and invertebrate species investigated so far (Durden et al, 1973;Juorio, 1976Juorio, , 1988Juorio and Philips, 1976;Juorio and Robertson, 1977;Philips et al, 1978;Reynolds et al, 1980;Juorio and Kazakoff, 1984;Juon o and Sloley, 1988;Juorio and Chedrese, 1990) (Tables 1 and 2). In the mammalian brain, although present in small quantities, PE has a heterogeneous distribution (Table 2), with the highest concentrations being associated with mesolimbic structures, where there are also high concentrations of the catecholamines.…”

Trace amine-associated receptor 1—Family archetype or iconoclast?

“…The large body of biochemical, pharmacological, and physiological evidence collected over the course of almost 100 years convincingly demonstrates the presence of endogenous TAs in all species of invertebrates (de Rome et al, 1980;Degen et al, 2000;Dudai, 1982;Dudai & Zvi, 1984;Guillen et al, 1989;Hashemzadeh et al, 1985;Rex & Komuniecki, 2002) and vertebrates that have been examined (Molinoff & Axelrod, 1969;Molinoff & Axelrod, 1972;Durden et al, 1973;Philips et al, 1974a;Philips et al, 1974b;Saavedra et al, 1974;Juorio, 1976;Juorio & Philips, 1976;Juorio & Robertson, 1977;Philips et al, 1978;Reynolds et al, 1980;Juorio & Kazakoff, 1984;Williams et al, 1987;Juorio & Sloley, 1988;Downer et al, 1993).…”

The effects of administration of monoamine oxidase‐B inhibitors on rat striatal neurone responses to dopamine

“…The samples were derivatised with dansyl chloride and the amines extracted into toluene: ethylacetate (9:1, v/v). The derivatives were isolated using two unidirectional thin layer chromatograms (Juorio & Kazakoff, 1984). The isolated derivatives were then determined for PE by a high resolution mass spectrometric selected ion monitoring method (Durden et al, 1973).…”