Biogenic amines are important messenger substances in the central nervous system and in peripheral organs of vertebrates and of invertebrates. The honeybee, Apis mellifera, is excellently suited to uncover the functions of biogenic amines in behaviour, because it has an extensive behavioural repertoire, with a number of biogenic amine receptors characterised in this insect. In the honeybee, the biogenic amines dopamine, octopamine, serotonin and tyramine modulate neuronal functions in various ways. Dopamine and serotonin are present in high concentrations in the bee brain, whereas octopamine and tyramine are less abundant. Octopamine is a key molecule for the control of honeybee behaviour. It generally has an arousing effect and leads to higher sensitivity for sensory inputs, better learning performance and increased foraging behaviour. Tyramine has been suggested to act antagonistically to octopamine, but only few experimental data are available for this amine. Dopamine and serotonin often have antagonistic or inhibitory effects as compared to octopamine. Biogenic amines bind to membrane receptors that primarily belong to the large gene-family of GTP-binding (G) protein coupled receptors. Receptor activation leads to transient changes in concentrations of intracellular second messengers such as cAMP, IP3 and/or Ca2+. Although several biogenic amine receptors from the honeybee have been cloned and characterised more recently, many genes still remain to be identified. The availability of the completely sequenced genome of Apis mellifera will contribute substantially to closing this gap. In this review, we will discuss the present knowledge on how biogenic amines and their receptor-mediated cellular responses modulate different behaviours of honeybees including learning processes and division of labour.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the carbodiimide-mediated amidation of hyaluronan (HA). The carbodiimide-mediated amidation includes the formation of a urea derivative, O-acylisourea, between the carbodiimide and a carboxylic group of HA, which a primary amine can displace, resulting in an amide bond. Reaction conditions were investigated and optimized, the molecular weights Mn and Mw were determined with size-exclusion chromatography and by-products were analysed with 1H NMR. The reaction is done at room temperature in slightly acidic pH, giving a degree of substitution between 5 to 15 %. A catalyst, N-hydroxysuccinimide, was needed for the coupling to be successful, since O-acylisourea was shown not to be reactive enough towards primary amines. It was found out that dissociated primary amines successfully couple to HA, contrary to what has been suggested before. 1H NMR revealed that O-acylisourea readily forms a by-product, which is covalently attached to HA, through the means of rearrangement. Also, 1H NMR showed that the carbodiimide reacts with phenols. An increase of Mn and Mw compared with native HA was observed and attributed to ester bond formation between a hydroxyl- and carboxylic group of HA polysaccharides. To conclude, the carbodiimide-mediated amidation is an unspecific reaction which is not suited for the coupling of primary amines to HA.

abstract: Animals must learn to ignore stimuli that are irrelevant to survival, which is a process referred to as ‘latent inhibition’. This process has been shown to be genetically heritable (Latshaw JS, Mazade R, Sinakevitch I, Mustard JA, Gadau J, Smith BH (submitted)). The locus containing the AmTYR1 gene has been shown through quantitative trait loci mapping to be linked to strong latent inhibition in honey bees. The Smith lab has been able to show a correlation between learning and the AmTYR1 receptor gene through pharmacological inhibition of the receptor. In order to further confirm this finding, experiments were designed to test how honey bees learn with this receptor knocked out. Here this G-protein coupled receptor for the biogenic amine tyramine is implemented as an important factor underlying latent inhibition in honey bees. It is shown that double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and Dicer-substrate small interfering RNA (dsiRNA) that are targeted to disrupt the tyramine receptors specifically affects latent inhibition but not excitatory associative conditioning. The results therefore identify a distinct reinforcement pathway for latent inhibition in insects. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Biology 2017

No description available.

Movement is controlled by neuronal central pattern generator (CPG) networks that are segmentally organised in organisms across the animal kingdom. The precise role of neuromodulators in the function, development and, particularly, the maintenance of these circuits is currently unresolved. This study investigates the effects of chronically altered signalling of tyramine and/or octopamine, two well established neuromodulators, in Drosophila larval locomotion. It shows that tyramine reduces crawling speed in larvae, whereas octopamine increases speed up to a physiological maximum. Changes in crawling speed are mediated by modulating stride duration, whilst stride length remains constant. These two neuromodulators also affect segmental muscle contraction and relaxation rates, indicative that the effects on crawling speed are likely to be at least partially due to modulatory effects on muscle physiology. Muscle recordings from muscle M6 in two adjacent segments, during fictive forward locomotion show that stride duration is influenced by a variable time delay between segmental CPG outputs. Frequency and duration of individual segmental outputs, by contrast, remains constant. The behavioural and electrophysiological data suggest, therefore, that the segmental locomotor CPG outputs remain constant in response to chronically altered neuromodulatory signalling. This study also identified a close spatial proximity of motor neuronal dendritic branches and putatively octopaminergic and/or tyraminergic synaptic terminal varicosities in the ventral nerve cord (VNC) neuropil. Moreover, manipulation of a putatively octopaminergic and/or tyraminergic subpopulation of interneurons, located in anterior brain regions, is sufficient to induce a similar, albeit smaller, larval crawling deficit. This indicates that the effects of locomotion may be induced in the central nervous system. This is confirmed in identified motor neurons as chronic changes in octopaminergic and/or tyraminergic signalling increase the frequency of bursting of action potential firing. In addition, the synaptic current amplitudes are substantially reduced in both ventral and dorsal muscle- innervating motor neurons, indicative of an effect to presynaptic excitation. In contrast, the function of neuromuscular junction remains largely unchanged. Taken together, this data shows that neuromodulation is sufficient to alter the output of a relatively small group of neurons, that comprise the locomotor CPG. The site of action of these modulators is, however, likely to be diverse.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of Toledo, 2007. / Typescript. "Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for The Doctor of Philosophy iin Biology." Bibliography: leaves 96-105.

A major pathway of tyramine and dopamine synthesis in insects is through the decarboxylation of tyrosine and DOPA, respectively. Although tyrosine decarboxylase (TDC) has been mentioned in some reports, it has never been critically analyzed. The high sequence identity shared by tyrosine decarboxylase and DOPA decarboxylase in insects, and the similar structures of the substrates, tyrosine and DOPA, raise the possibility that both tyrosine decarboxylase and DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) have activities to tyrosine and DOPA. In this study, after tyrosine decarboxylase and DOPA decarboxylase enzymes of Anopheles gambiae were expressed, their substrate specificities and biochemical properties were critically analyzed. My results provide clear biochemical evidence establishing that the mosquito tyrosine decarboxylase functions primarily on the production of tyramine with low activity to DOPA. In contrast, mosquito DOPA decarboxylase is highly specific to DOPA with essentially no activity to tyrosine. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

Biogene Amine sind eine Substanzklasse, die bei Vertebraten und Invertebraten eine wichtige Komponente des endokrinen Systems darstellen. Sie binden an spezifische Rezeptoren der Gruppe der G-Protein gekoppelten Rezeptoren. In dieser Arbeit wurden zwei neue Rezeptoren aus der Schabe Periplaneta americana kloniert. Durch verschiedene Ansätze konnten zwei vollständige cDNA-Sequenzen isoliert werden. Die Aminosäuresequenzen weisen die größte Ähnlichkeit zu bereits bekannten Tyraminrezeptoren aus Locusta/Bombyx bzw. zu Dopaminrezeptoren aus Apis/Drosophila auf. Entsprechend wurden diese Rezeptoren Pea (P. americana) TYR1 und PeaDOP2 genannt. Deutliche Hinweise auf ihre Funktion lassen sich an den abgeleiteten Aminosäuresequenzen ablesen. Aminosäuren, die wichtig bei der Bildung der Bindungstasche, der Rezeptoraktivierung und der Kopplung eines G-Proteins sind, treten bei beiden Rezeptoren auf. Sequenzalignments stellen die Rezeptoren in die Gruppe anderer Tyraminrezeptoren bzw. der Invertebraten-Typ Dopaminrezeptoren. Das Transkript der beiden Rezeptoren konnte durch RT-PCR in verschiedenen Geweben nachgewiesen werden. Ein Ziel der Arbeit war die Gewinnung eines polyklonalen Antiserums gegen PeaTYR1. Dieses Serum detektiert im Homogenat von Gehirnen mehrere Banden, darunter auch eine mit der kalkulierten Masse von PeaTYR1. Präabsorption des Serums mit dem Peptid, welches zur Reinigung verwendet wurde, zeigt dessen Spezifität. An Gehirnschnitten markiert das Serum große Teile des Protocerebrums aber auch feinere Strukturen der Antennalloben, der optischen Loben und des Zentralkomplexes. Ein weiteres Serum gegen Tyramin führte zu einer Markierung von mehreren Neuronengruppen, welche sich in die optischen Loben und den Zentralkomplex verzweigen. Der αPeaTYR1-CPL3 Antikörper markierte die Plasmamembran von transfizierten HEK293-Zellen. Die Lokalisierung von Rezeptor und Ligand deuten darauf hin, dass Tyramin die optische und olfaktorische Wahrnehmung beeinflussen könnte. / Biogenic amines form a group of substances which play an important role in the endocrine system of invertebrates and vertebrates. They bind to specific receptors of the G-protein coupled type. In this work two new receptors from Periplaneta americana were cloned. By several approaches two full-length cDNA sequences were obtained. The amino acid sequence is very similar to known tyramine receptors of Locusta/Bombyx or dopamine receptors from Apis/Drosophila, respectively. Therefore they were named PeaTYR1 and PeaDOP2. Residues which are important for forming the binding pocket, activation of the receptor or G-protein coupling could be identified in both receptors. Sequence alignments group them together with other tyramine receptors or insect-type dopamine receptors. The corresponding mRNA can be detected in different tissues by RT-PCR. One aim of this work was the preparation of a polyclonal antiserum against PeaTYR1. This serum detects several bands in a brain homogenate; one has the calculated mass of PeaTYR1. Its specificity was proven by praeabsorption. On brain slices the serum labels large regions in the protocerebrum, but also fine structures in the antennal lobes, the optic lobes or the central complex. Another serum against tyramine labels several cell clusters, which ramify within the optic lobes and the central complex. On transfected HEK293 cells the receptor can be detected on the plasma membrane. The localization of receptor and ligand may indicate a role of tyramine in optical/olfactory perception.

The scope of cardiac pathophysiology in sepsis has not been fully defined. Accordingly, we evaluated the effects of sepsis on heart rate (HR), HR variability, and conduction parameters in a murine model of sepsis. Electrocardiograms were recorded noninvasively from conscious mice before and after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or sham surgery. Responses of isolated atria to tyramine and isoproterenol were quantified to assess the functional state of sympathetic nerves and postjunctional sensitivity to adrenergic stimulation. Cecal ligation and puncture mice had lower HR compared with sham at 16 to 18 h postsurgery (sham, 741 ± 7 beats/min; CLP, 557 ± 31 beats/min; n = 6/group; P < 0.001), and there was significant prolongation of the PR, QRS, and QTc intervals. Slowing of HR and conduction developed within 4 to 6 h after CLP and were preceded by a decrease in HR variability. Treatment of CLP mice with isoproterenol (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) at 25 h after surgery failed to increase HR or decrease conduction intervals. The lack of in vivo response to isoproterenol cannot be attributed to hypothermia because robust chronotropic and inotropic responses to isoproterenol were evoked from isolated atria at 25°C and 30°C. These findings demonstrate that impaired regulation of HR (i.e., reduced HR variability) develops before the onset of overt cardiac rate and conduction changes in septic mice. Subsequent time-dependent decreases in HR and cardiac conduction can be attributed to hypothermia and would contribute to decreased cardiac output and organ perfusion. Because isolated atria from septic mice showed normal responsiveness to adrenergic stimulation, we conclude that impaired effectiveness of isoproterenol in vivo can be attributed to reversible effects of systemic factors on adrenergic receptors and/or postreceptor signaling.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / IntroduÃÃo: A Cissus verticillata à uma planta, utilizada popularmente como antidiabÃtica e antiinflamatÃria, Objetivos: Investigar as atividades antidiabÃtica, analgÃsica, antiinflamatÃria e antioxidante da FraÃÃo SolÃvel em Metanol (FSM), FraÃÃo Rica em Tiramina (FRT) e tiramina (TIR) isolados de Cissus verticillata. Material e MÃtodos: Ratos Wistar, machos, foram tratados por via oral com a FSM (50 e 100 mg/kg), glibenclamida(GLI, 5 mg/kg), Ãgua destilada ou glicose), e o sangue coletado antes e 30, 60, 90 e 120 min apÃs à glicose (3g/kg) para medir a hipoglicemia. Na avaliaÃÃo da glicemia em ratos normais, os animais foram tratados com a FSM (100 mg/kg), GLI (5 mg/kg) ou Ãgua destilada e a glicemia medida antes e 5 dias depois do tratamento. O diabetes foi induzidos com aloxano (40 mg/kg, i.v) e apÃs 48 h, os animais foram tratados por via oral com a FSM (100 mg/kg), GLI (5 mg/kg) e TIR (2 e 4 mg/kg) e a glicemia determinada antes e 30, 60, 90 e 120 min apÃs à glicose. Outros grupos de animais diabÃticos foram tratados com a FSM (50 e 100 mg/kg), FRT (100 mg/kg), TIR (1- 4 mg/kg), GLI (2,5 e 5 mg/kg), MET (50 e 100 mg/kg) e 5 dias depois, o sangue foi coletado para avaliaÃÃo da glicemia, triglicerÃdios, VLDL, colesterol total, HDL, AST, ALT, urÃia e creatinina. Os animais que sobreviveram foram sacrificados, dissecados o pÃncreas e o fÃgado, e os ÃrgÃos foram usados para a avaliaÃÃo histopatolÃgica, sendo este Ãltimo tambÃm utilizado para avaliaÃÃo da atividade antioxidante (TBARS, GSH, catalase e nitritos/nitratos). Para determinaÃÃo da hemoglobina glicada in vitro foi utilizado sangue de ratos nÃo-diabÃticos incubados com D-glicose (50mM) e FSM ou TIR (50 &#61549;g/ml). Na dosagem do glicogÃnio hepÃtico, ratos diabÃticos foram tratados por 10 dias com a FSM. A avaliaÃÃo da atividade analgÃsica foi realizada em camundongos Swiss, machos, tratados com a FSM (50 e 100 mg/kg, v.o.), TIR (1,2 e 4 mg/kg), GLI ( 5 mg/kg) e MOR (10 mg/kg,.) no teste da formalina. A atividade antiinflamatÃria foi analisada com os modelos do edema de pata induzido por carragenina ou dextrano, em ratos e camundongos tratados com FSM (50 e 100 e 200 mg/kg), TIR (1- 4 mg/kg), GLI ( 5 mg/kg), INDO (5 mg/kg) e CIPRO (5 e 10 mg/kg,v.o.). Resultados: A FSM demonstrou pequena atividade hipoglicemiante no teste de tolerÃncia a glicose em ratos normais e foi ineficaz em diabÃticos. A FSM reduziu a glicemia em ratos normais, enquanto a TIR nÃo teve efeito. O tratamento de ratos diabÃticos durante 5 dias com a FSM, FRT, TIR, GLI e MET reduziu a glicemia, triglicerÃdios, VLDL, urÃia e creatinina. Nenhuma potencializaÃÃo do efeito hipoglicÃmico foi observado com a associaÃÃo de FSM + TIR ou GLI + TIR. Os estudos histopatolÃgicos mostraram regeneraÃÃo das lesÃes e aumento do nÃmero de cÃlulas &#61538; apÃs tratamento dos animais diabÃticos com a FSM, TIR e GLI. A FSM e TIR mostraram atividade antioxiodante, como aumento no nÃvel de GSH e reduÃÃo nos nÃveis de catalase e nitritos. A FRT aumentou somente o GSH. A FSM e TIR reduziram a hemoglobina glicada, demonstraram potente atividade analgÃsica, mas foram ineficazes como antiinflamatÃrias. A FSM e TIR nÃo reverteram a hiperglicemia induzida pelo diazÃxido, um bloqueador dos canais de potÃssio. MET e TIR reduziram a glicemia, triglicerÃdios, VLDL, urÃia e creatinina, e os efeitos hipoglicemiantes foram potencializados quando essas duas drogas foram associadas. ConclusÃo: Estes resultados confirmam a atividade hipoglicemiante da FSM. O mecanismo de aÃÃo nÃo parece ser similar aquele apresentado pelas sulfonilurÃias. A potencializaÃÃo do efeito hipoglicemiante da TIR foi observada apÃs sua associaÃÃo com MET, sugerindo que o mecanismo de aÃÃo dos constituintes hipoglicÃmicos de C. verticillata à similar ao das biguanidas. Posteriormente, a FSM e TIR apresentaram atividade antioxidante, reduzidos nÃveis de hemoglobina glicada, aumento do glicogÃnio hepÃtico, e no nÃmero de cÃlulas &#61538; pancreÃticas, sugerindo que essas drogas diminuem a toxicidade hepÃtica e pancreÃtica. Embora a atividade antiinflamatÃria tenha sido marginal, seu efeito foi potencializado pela associaÃÃo com TIR, indicando que a TIR à um dos principais constituintes bioativos de Cissus verticillata. / IntroduÃÃo: A Cissus verticillata à uma planta, utilizada popularmente como antidiabÃtica e antiinflamatÃria, Objetivos: Investigar as atividades antidiabÃtica, analgÃsica, antiinflamatÃria e antioxidante da FraÃÃo SolÃvel em Metanol (FSM), FraÃÃo Rica em Tiramina (FRT) e tiramina (TIR) isolados de Cissus verticillata. Material e MÃtodos: Ratos Wistar, machos, foram tratados por via oral com a FSM (50 e 100 mg/kg), glibenclamida(GLI, 5 mg/kg), Ãgua destilada ou glicose), e o sangue coletado antes e 30, 60, 90 e 120 min apÃs à glicose (3g/kg) para medir a hipoglicemia. Na avaliaÃÃo da glicemia em ratos normais, os animais foram tratados com a FSM (100 mg/kg), GLI (5 mg/kg) ou Ãgua destilada e a glicemia medida antes e 5 dias depois do tratamento. O diabetes foi induzidos com aloxano (40 mg/kg, i.v) e apÃs 48 h, os animais foram tratados por via oral com a FSM (100 mg/kg), GLI (5 mg/kg) e TIR (2 e 4 mg/kg) e a glicemia determinada antes e 30, 60, 90 e 120 min apÃs à glicose. Outros grupos de animais diabÃticos foram tratados com a FSM (50 e 100 mg/kg), FRT (100 mg/kg), TIR (1- 4 mg/kg), GLI (2,5 e 5 mg/kg), MET (50 e 100 mg/kg) e 5 dias depois, o sangue foi coletado para avaliaÃÃo da glicemia, triglicerÃdios, VLDL, colesterol total, HDL, AST, ALT, urÃia e creatinina. Os animais que sobreviveram foram sacrificados, dissecados o pÃncreas e o fÃgado, e os ÃrgÃos foram usados para a avaliaÃÃo histopatolÃgica, sendo este Ãltimo tambÃm utilizado para avaliaÃÃo da atividade antioxidante (TBARS, GSH, catalase e nitritos/nitratos). Para determinaÃÃo da hemoglobina glicada in vitro foi utilizado sangue de ratos nÃo-diabÃticos incubados com D-glicose (50mM) e FSM ou TIR (50 &#61549;g/ml). Na dosagem do glicogÃnio hepÃtico, ratos diabÃticos foram tratados por 10 dias com a FSM. A avaliaÃÃo da atividade analgÃsica foi realizada em camundongos Swiss, machos, tratados com a FSM (50 e 100 mg/kg, v.o.), TIR (1,2 e 4 mg/kg), GLI ( 5 mg/kg) e MOR (10 mg/kg,.) no teste da formalina. A atividade antiinflamatÃria foi analisada com os modelos do edema de pata induzido por carragenina ou dextrano, em ratos e camundongos tratados com FSM (50 e 100 e 200 mg/kg), TIR (1- 4 mg/kg), GLI ( 5 mg/kg), INDO (5 mg/kg) e CIPRO (5 e 10 mg/kg,v.o.). Resultados: A FSM demonstrou pequena atividade hipoglicemiante no teste de tolerÃncia a glicose em ratos normais e foi ineficaz em diabÃticos. A FSM reduziu a glicemia em ratos normais, enquanto a TIR nÃo teve efeito. O tratamento de ratos diabÃticos durante 5 dias com a FSM, FRT, TIR, GLI e MET reduziu a glicemia, triglicerÃdios, VLDL, urÃia e creatinina. Nenhuma potencializaÃÃo do efeito hipoglicÃmico foi observado com a associaÃÃo de FSM + TIR ou GLI + TIR. Os estudos histopatolÃgicos mostraram regeneraÃÃo das lesÃes e aumento do nÃmero de cÃlulas &#61538; apÃs tratamento dos animais diabÃticos com a FSM, TIR e GLI. A FSM e TIR mostraram atividade antioxiodante, como aumento no nÃvel de GSH e reduÃÃo nos nÃveis de catalase e nitritos. A FRT aumentou somente o GSH. A FSM e TIR reduziram a hemoglobina glicada, demonstraram potente atividade analgÃsica, mas foram ineficazes como antiinflamatÃrias. A FSM e TIR nÃo reverteram a hiperglicemia induzida pelo diazÃxido, um bloqueador dos canais de potÃssio. MET e TIR reduziram a glicemia, triglicerÃdios, VLDL, urÃia e creatinina, e os efeitos hipoglicemiantes foram potencializados quando essas duas drogas foram associadas. ConclusÃo: Estes resultados confirmam a atividade hipoglicemiante da FSM. O mecanismo de aÃÃo nÃo parece ser similar aquele apresentado pelas sulfonilurÃias. A potencializaÃÃo do efeito hipoglicemiante da TIR foi observada apÃs sua associaÃÃo com MET, sugerindo que o mecanismo de aÃÃo dos constituintes hipoglicÃmicos de C. verticillata à similar ao das biguanidas. Posteriormente, a FSM e TIR apresentaram atividade antioxidante, reduzidos nÃveis de hemoglobina glicada, aumento do glicogÃnio hepÃtico, e no nÃmero de cÃlulas &#61538; pancreÃticas, sugerindo que essas drogas diminuem a toxicidade hepÃtica e pancreÃtica. Embora a atividade antiinflamatÃria tenha sido marginal, seu efeito foi potencializado pela associaÃÃo com TIR, indicando que a TIR à um dos principais constituintes bioativos de Cissus verticillata.