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[P195]: Homocysteine and oxidative damage during early development
Author(s) -
Rassin D.,
Kamp T.,
PerezPolo R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2006.09.255
Subject(s) - citation , library science , computer science
It is well established that the neurotransmitter serotonin performs essential functions during the course of vertebrate development. The objective of this study was to examine the role of serotonin in the development of two species of frogs that have evolved different developmental modes: direct development and metamorphosis. Directly developing frogs lack the free-swimming, larval stage that is characteristic of most metamorphic frogs and develop directly into the adult phenotype. Metamorphosis is a dramatic change in physiology, behaviour, and life history, which results in an aquatic tadpole transforming into a terrestrial organism. This investigation utilized the metamorphic frog, Xenopus laevis, the African clawed frog, and the directly developing frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui, the coquı́ frog from Puerto Rico. Developing embryos and tadpoles of E. coqui and X. laevis were treated with several pharmaceutical agents that altered serotonin metabolism including: 5-HT inhibitor, serotonin precursors, 5-HT transporter inhibitor, and 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A/C, 5-HT3, 5-HT4 receptor agonists and antagonists. Following treatment, embryos and tadpoles were analyzed using immunocytochemistry and high performance liquid chromatography to determine the effects of the altered serotonergic system on the onset and completion of metamorphosis as well as the progression of direct development. Results indicated that serotonin is important in the modulation of metamorphosis and that disruption of serotonin metabolism resulted in abnormal development of E. coqui. Although differences were noted between the two developmental pathways, it is concluded that serotonin is an essential neurochemical in both metamorphic and directly developing modes.