THE EFFECT OF BIOGENIC-AMINES AND THEIR ANALOGS ON CARBOHYDRATE-METABOLISM IN THE FAT-BODY OF THE COCKROACH BLABERUS-DISCOIDALIS

Several biogenic amines and their analogs were examined for stimulator y effects on glycogen phosphorylase activity and trehalase biosynthesi s in fat body of the cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis. Octopamine and s ynephrine were the most potent activators of fat body phosphorylase; 1 0 mu M octopamine being nearly as effective as the hypertrehalosemic h ormone (HTH). Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and tyramine produced inter mediate effects, whereas dopamine, 5-hydroxy tryptamine, and melatonin had no effect. The fat body octopamine receptors appeared to be pharm acologically related to vertebrate alpha-adrenergic receptors and belo nged to the Octopamine(1) class receptor. In contrast to previous repo rts, synephrine also induced both phosphorylase activation and hypertr ehalosemia as effectively as octopamine. Demethylchlordimeform, a form amidine insecticide structurally similar to octopamine, also strongly activated fat body phosphorylase, possibly by interaction with the oct opamine receptor. (C) 1998 Academic Press.