Meeting Abstract

P3.145  Jan. 6  Steroid Levels in the Bivalve Oyster Crassostrea virginica and the Mussel Mytilus edulis WILMOT, Lambert*; NDUKA, Ebere; Medgar Evers College; Medgar Evers College ebere@mec.cuny.edu

Classical hormones have long been associated mainly with vertebrates. In vertebrates these hormones are known to be chemical messengers and active signal transmitters. In previous studies we measured levels of monoamines, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin in the oyster Crassostrea virginica using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). In this study we measured levels of the steroids, testosterone and estradiol 17β in tissues of the bivalves, C. virginica and Mytilus edulis. Results from our present study using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) have indicated detectable levels of testosterone and estradiol in gonads, adductor muscle and gills of these bivalves. The role of these steroids in bivalves is not very clear. Levels of both steroids were detected in higher quantities in gonads compared to the quantities found in adductor muscle and gills. Amounts of testosterone measured in gonadal tissues ranged from 9.371 mg/gm tissue wet weight (ww) to 1.065 mg/gm ww; whereas levels in adductor muscles ranged from 8.475-25.666 µg./gm tissue ww ; gills 5.773-10.559 µg/gm tissue ww. The presence of high amounts of steroids in the gonads may be associated with the reproductive activity in this tissue. We therefore intend to explore the relationship between levels of the steroids in gonadal tissue during the different seasons especially in spawned animals. This work was supported in part by grants 0510601071 of NYSDOE and 66288-036 of PSC-CUNY. We thank Frank M. Flowers $ Sons, Inc, Oyster Bay, NY for supplying oysters.