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First published online September 15, 2004
Journal of Experimental Biology 207, 3749-3756 (2004)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2004
doi: 10.1242/jeb.01209

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Synergic effects of tryptamine and octopamine on ophiuroid luminescence (Echinodermata)

C. Vanderlinden^* and J. Mallefet

Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Université Catholique de Louvain, Bâtiment Kellner, Place Croix du Sud, 3, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: vanderlinden{at}bani.ucl.ac.be)

Accepted 26 July 2004

In ophiuroids, bioluminescence is under nervous control. Previous studies have shown that acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter triggering light emission in Amphipholis squamata and Amphiura filiformis. By contrast, none of the neurotransmitters tested so far induced luminescence in two other ophiuroid species, Ophiopsila aranea and Ophiopsila californica. The aim of this work was thus to investigate the putative involvement of two biogenic amines, tryptamine and octopamine, in light emission of three ophiuroid species. A. filiformis responds to both tryptamine and octopamine, mainly on its arm segments, while O. californica only responds to tryptamine stimulation. By contrast, tryptamine and octopamine do not seem to be involved in O. aranea luminescence control since none of these substances induced light emission in this species. The synergic effects of several other drugs with tryptamine and octopamine were also tested.

Key words: Amphiura filiformis, Echinoderm, Ophiosila aranea, Ophiopsila californica, Ophiuroid, octopamine, pharmacology, tryptamine, luminescence

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