The Effect of Drugs on the Synthesis and Storage of Monoamines in Nervous Tissues of Molluscs

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Abstract
1. Reserpine produced a marked decrease in the concentration of dopamine (DM), noradrenaline (NA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the optic lobes of Octopus vulgaris. This depletion was detected 6–12 hours after drug treatment and lasted for at least 16 days. The dose of reserpine required to produce similar decreases in amine concentrations in the ganglia of Helix pomatia was more than 10 times higher. 2. After L-DOPA administration, the amino acid was detectable for at least two days in the ganglia of Helix pomatia. The treatment led to an increase in the concentration of DM but not that of NA. 3. a-Methyl-dopamine (a-methylDM) was found in the ganglia of Helix pomatia after a-methylDOPA administration but a-methyl-noradrenaline (a-methylNA) was not detected. Following the a-methylDOPA treatment, the amino acid remained detectable in Helix pomatia ganglia for at least three days. 4. Only small amounts of a-methyl-catecholamines were formed in the optic lobes of Octopus vulgaris following a-methylDOPA administration.