A QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF THE BIOGENIC-AMINES IN THE CENTRAL GANGLIAOF THE POND SNAIL, LYMNAEA-STAGNALIS (L)

Biogenic amines in the central ganglia of Lymnaea stagnalis have been identified, quantified and localised using the techniques of high perf ormance liquid chromatography (HPLC), radioenzymatic assay (REA) and f luorescence microscopy. HPLC indicated the presence of dopamine (DA), (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), noradrenaline (NA) and 3,4-dihydroxypheny lacetic acid (DOPAC) in Lymnaea central nervous tissue. REA confirmed the presence of DA and NA in this tissue and, in addition, indicated t hat some adrenaline (Adr) may be present. Quantitatively, DA and 5-HT were the most significant amines detected, with the pedal ganglia cont aining the highest concentrations of both. High degrees of variation i n DA and 5-HT concentrations were observed, both between animals from within the same sample group and between the mean values determined fr om separate groups. Whilst there was no obvious explanation for the di fferences between the sample group means, some evidence accrued to sug gest that underlying seasonal variability may have been a contributory factor.