Identification and quantitative measurements of biogenic amines and DOPA in the central nervous system and haemolymph of the crayfish Pacif ast acus leniusculus (crustacea)

Abstract

1. The biogenic amines dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), octopamine (OA), serotonin (5-HT) and the amino acid dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) have been identified and quantitatively measured in the crayfish nervous system and in haemolymph employing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). 2. The substances occurred in the nervous system in amounts ranging between 0.1 and 0.7 μg/g w/w. 3. The haemolymph contained very small amounts of NA, OA, 5-HT and DOPA. 4. No adrenaline (A) was present. 5. Prolonged handling of the animals caused dramatic changes in DOPA levels. 6. Depletion experiments using reserpine caused a pronounced decrease in the content of DA, NA, OA and 5-HT in the nervous system. DOPA, however, remained unaffected.