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Action of Taurine, 3‐aminopropanesulfonic acid, and GABA on the hindgut and heart of the cockroach, Leucophaea maderae
Author(s) -
Wagner Renée M.,
Cook Benjamin J.,
Cooper June F.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/arch.940160202
Subject(s) - taurine , hindgut , cockroach , glycine , biology , medicine , bicuculline , endocrinology , biochemistry , glutamate receptor , amino acid , gabaa receptor , receptor , midgut , botany , larva , ecology
Taurine, glycine, glutamate, and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) were all present in concentrations of greater than 1% of the total free amino acid content in the brain, thoracic, and abdominal ganglia of Leucophaea maderae. Hemolymph, subesophageal ganglia, and hindgut had substantial amounts of glutamate and glycine, but less than 0.3% taurine or GABA. Taurine, 3‐aminopropanesulfonic acid (3‐APS), cysteine‐sulfinic acid (CSA), and GABA each had myotropic activity on the isolated cockroach hindgut, with 3‐APS having the most consistent effect (ED 50 = 0.63 mM), while taurine and CSA activities were similar to that of GABA on the hindgut. Both taurine and 3‐APS had anti‐arrhythmic effects on semi‐isolated heart preparations of L. maderae , while GABA was inhibitory and induced arrhythmia. Bicuculline was antagonistic to the effects of GABA, taurine, and 3‐APS on the hindgut, and induced arrhythmia in heart preparations; this arrhythmia was reversible by taurine, but not by GABA or 3‐APS.