Meeting Abstract

P2.133  Saturday, Jan. 5  Presence of Octopamine and Octopamine Receptors in Ganglia and Tissues of Crassoatrea virginica WELSH, C.*; BESS, F.; CATAPANE, E.J.; CARROLL, M.A.; Medgar Evers College; Medgar Evers College; Medgar Evers College; Medgar Evers College catapane@mec.cuny.edu

Octopamine (OA) biogenic amine first identified in octopus has been well studied in arthropods and gastropods being a neurotransmitter and hormone. OA has rarely been reported in bivalves. Using HPLC and ELISA we showed it present in ganglia and tissues of the oyster Crassostrea virginica, the mussel Mytilus edulis, and the clam Mercenaria mercenaria. We found it cardio-excitatory in oyster and mussel, but cardio-inhibitory in clam. To localize OA and OA receptors in tissues we used immunohistofluorescence. We used pan TAAR 1° antibodies, which are reactive to OA, beta-phenylethylamine, p-tyramine and tryptamine receptors, but not to classical biogenic amines and histamine receptors, and visualized with FITC conjugated 2° antibodies. Tissues were fixed with paraformaldehyde, treated with 1° and 2° antibodies, paraffin embedded, sectioned and viewed with a Zeiss epilume fluorescence microscope. To detect OA we used anti-OA 1° antibody (OA conjugated to KLH), and visulaized with FITC conjugated 2° antibodies. Tissues were fixed with EDAC (1-ethyl-3(3-dimethlyaminopropyl) carbodiimide), treated with 1° and 2° antibodies, and either paraffin embedded and sectioned, or frozen, cryostat sectioned and viewed. The TAAR antibodies revealed OA receptors in cerebral and visceral ganglia, heart, gill, adductor muscle and digestive tract. OA antibodies revealed OA in cerebral and visceral ganglia, heart and blood cells in the gill blood channels. The study demonstrates the presence of OA receptors and OA in ganglia and organs of the oyster. The distribution of the OA fluorescence as well as previous HPLC data suggests it may be a hormone in the animal as it appears to be very wide-spread.