Visual discrimination transfer and modulation by biogenic amines in honeybees.

For more than a century, visual learning and memory have been studied in the honeybee Apis mellifera using operant appetitive conditioning. Although honeybees show impressive visual learning capacities in this well-established protocol, operant training of free-flying animals cannot be combined with invasive protocols for studying the neurobiological basis of visual learning. In view of this, different attempts have been made to develop new classical conditioning protocols for studying visual learning in harnessed honeybees, though learning performance remains considerably poorer than that for free-flying animals. Here, we investigated the ability of honeybees to use visual information acquired during classical conditioning in a new operant context. We performed differential visual conditioning of the proboscis extension reflex (PER) followed by visual orientation tests in a Y-maze. Classical conditioning and Y-maze retention tests were performed using the same pair of perceptually isoluminant chromatic stimuli, to avoid the influence of phototaxis during free-flying orientation. Visual discrimination transfer was clearly observed, with pre-trained honeybees significantly orienting their flights towards the former positive conditioned stimulus (CS+), thus showing that visual memories acquired by honeybees are resistant to context changes between conditioning and the retention test. We combined this visual discrimination approach with selective pharmacological injections to evaluate the effect of dopamine and octopamine in appetitive visual learning. Both octopaminergic and dopaminergic antagonists impaired visual discrimination performance, suggesting that both these biogenic amines modulate appetitive visual learning in honeybees. Our study brings new insight into cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms underlying visual learning in honeybees.

[Regulation of adenylyl cyclase signaling system by insulin, biogenic amines, and glucagon at their separate and combined action in the muscle membranes of the mollusc Anodonta cygnea].

In smooth muscles of mollusc Anodonta cygnea, hormones produce regulatory effects on the adenylyl cyclase (AC) signaling system via receptors of the serpentine (biogenic amine, isoproterenol, glucagon) and of tyrosine kinase (insulin) types. Intracellular mechanisms of their action are interconnected. Use of hormones, their antagonists, and pertussis toxin at the combined action of insulin and biogenic amines or of glucagon on the AC activity allows revealing possible intersection points in mechanisms of their action. The combined effect of insulin and serotonin or of glucagon leads to a decrease of stimulation of AC by these hormones, whereas at action of insulin and isoproterenol the AC-stimulatory effect of insulin is blocked, while the AC-inhibitory effect of isoproterenol is preserved both in the presence and in the absence of the non-hydrolyzed GTP analog - guanylylimidodiphosphate (GppNHp). Specific blocking of the AC-stimulatory serotonin effect by cyproheptadine - an antagonist of serotonin receptors - did not affect stimulation of AC by insulin. Beta-adrenoblockers (propranolol and alprenolol) interfered with inhibition of the AC activity by isoproterenol, but did not change the AC stimulation by insulin. Pertussis toxin blocked the AC-inhibitory effect of isoproterenol and attenuated the AC-stimulatory effect of insulin. Thus, in muscles of the mollusc Anodonta cygnea there have been revealed negative interrelations between the AC system, which are realized at the combined effect of insulin and serotonin or of glucagon, probably at the level of receptor of the serpentine type (serotonin, glucagon), while at action of insulin and isoproterenol - at the level of interaction of G1 protein and AC.

Interdisciplinary Significance of Food-Related Adverse Reactions in Adulthood.

Background: Adults frequently interpret food-associated adverse reactions as indicators of a food allergy. However, the public perception of food allergy may differ from a clinician's point of view. The prevalence of patient-reported food allergy tends to be higher than physician-confirmed cases. Dermatological manifestations (urticaria, pruritus, dermatitis, and edema) are frequently reported by patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe patient-reported symptoms related to suspected food allergies and particularly to characterize and highlight the volume of patients who visit Budapest allergy clinics with suspected food allergies. Methods: In this prospective study, adult (≥18 years) patients were examined at the Allergology Outpatient Unit of the Dept. of Dermatology, Venereology, and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest. The examination included a detailed medical history; physical examination; and when necessary the measurement of allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Results: Data from 501 patients (393 women, 108 men) were analyzed. Intolerance to dietary biogenic amines occurred in 250 cases (250/501, 50%). Oral allergy syndrome was confirmed in 71 patients (71/501, 14%). Allergy to food preservatives was diagnosed in 14 (14/501, 3%) cases by a dermatologist-allergist specialist. Five individuals (5/501, 1%) were diagnosed with IgE-mediated food allergy. In some cases (28/501, 6%), edema-inducing/enhancing side effects of drugs were observed which patients had misattributed to various foods. Among the food groups considered to be provoking factors, the most frequently mentioned were fruits (198/501, 40%), milk/dairy products (174/501, 35%), and nuts/oilseeds (144/501, 29%). Overwhelmingly, urticaria (47%) was the most common dermatological diagnosis, followed by dermatitis (20%) and allergic contact dermatitis (8%). Conclusion: Improvement is needed in food allergy, food intolerance, and general nutritional knowledge among the general public. According to our data, perceived/self-reported food allergies were overestimated by adults when compared against physician-confirmed food allergies; however, other diseases potentially responsible for food-related problems were underestimated. The prevalence of oral allergy syndrome was high in the cohort. Intolerance to dietary biogenic amines was common, and although the role of dietary histamine and biogenic amine is not entirely understood in eliciting patients' symptoms, improvements in complaints were reported during the control visits.

The thyroid hormone derivative 3-iodothyronamine increases food intake in rodents.

BACKGROUND: The thyroid hormone derivative 3-iodothyronamine (T(1)AM), an endogenous biogenic amine, is a potent agonist of the G protein-coupled trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). T(1)AM is present in rat brain, and TAAR1 is expressed in hypothalamic nuclei associated with the regulation of energy homeostasis. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of T(1)AM on food intake in rodents. METHODS: We determined the effect of (i) intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of T(1)AM on food intake, oxygen consumption (VO(2)) and locomotor activity in mice; (ii) intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of T(1)AM on food intake in male rats; (iii) c-fos expression following ventricular administration of T(1)AM in male rats; and (iv) direct injection of T(1)AM into the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of male rats on food intake. RESULTS: (i) T(1)AM (4 nmol/kg) significantly increased food intake following i.p. injection in mice but had no effect on VO(2) or locomotor activity. (ii) ICV administration of T(1)AM (1.2 nmol/kg) significantly increased food intake in male rats. (iii) Intraventricular administration of T(1)AM significantly increased c-fos expression in the ARC of male rats. (iv) Direct administration of T(1)AM (0.12, 0.4 and 1.2 nmol/kg) into the ARC of male rats significantly increased food intake. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that T(1)AM is an orexigenic factor that may act through the ARC to increase food intake in rodents.

Dietary trace amine-dependent vasoconstriction in porcine coronary artery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The dietary trace amines tyramine and beta-phenylethylamine (beta-PEA) can increase blood pressure. However, the mechanisms involved in the vascular effect of trace amines have not been fully established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether trace amine-dependent vasoconstriction was brought about by tyramine and beta-PEA acting as indirect sympathomimetic agents, as previously assumed, or whether trace amine-dependent vasoconstriction could be mediated by recently discovered trace amine-associated (TAA) receptors. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The responses to p-tyramine and beta-PEA were investigated in vitro in rings of the left anterior descending coronary arteries of pigs. KEY RESULTS: p-Tyramine induced a concentration-dependent (0.1-3 mM) vasoconstriction. The maximum response and pD(2) value for p-tyramine was unaffected by endothelium removal or pre-treatment with antagonists for adrenoceptors, histamine, dopamine or 5-HT receptors. beta-PEA also produced a concentration-dependent (0.3-10 mM) vasoconstriction which was unaffected by endothelium removal, beta-adrenoceptor or 5-HT receptor antagonists. A substantial, but reduced, response to beta-PEA was obtained in the presence of prazosin (alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist), haloperidol (D(2)/D(3) dopamine receptor antagonist) or mepyramine (H(1) histamine receptor antagonist). The pD(2) value for beta-PEA was unaffected by any of the antagonists tested. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Vasoconstriction induced by p-tyramine does not involve an indirect sympathomimetic effect, although vasoconstriction caused by beta-PEA may occur, in part, by this mechanism. We therefore propose that trace amine-dependent vasoconstriction is mediated by phenylethylamine-specific receptors, which are closely related to or identical to TAA receptors. These receptors could provide a target for new antihypertensive therapies.

Assessment of safety, nutritional, and spoilage characteristics of different lagoon grey mullets (Liza ramada, Liza aurata, and Liza saliens).

Different lagoon grey mullets such as Liza ramada (thinlip mullet), Liza aurata (golden grey mullet), and Liza saliens (leaping grey mullet) were analyzed for their nutritional, microbiological, and safety parameters. The microbiological values never exceeded the lower limits stipulated by the Italian Higher Institute of Health. The pathogenic species frequently associated with seafood (Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Aeromonas hydrophila) were never detected. The absence of coliforms and of Escherichia coli was noted in all fish species after 4 days of storage in ice. Heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury were always below the detection limits (0.01 mg/kg). All three fish species had low levels of total biogenic amines (80 to 100 mg/kg), and the presence of histamine was sporadic. All Liza species, particularly L. ramada and L. saliens, are a good source of omega3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Injection of biogenic amines modulates osmoregulation of Litopenaeus vannamei: response of hemolymph osmotic pressure, ion concentration and osmolality effectors.

In this paper, we compared systematically the temporal and dose response relationship and physiological significance among biogenic amines injection, changes of ion concentration, FAA concentrations and composition and protein in context of osmoregulatory ability in marine euryhaline shrimp: Litopenaeus vannamei. The dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) injection all had transient effects on hemolymph osmolality, ion concentrations but which occurred in different time and were dose-dependent. The highest concentrations of FAAs in hemolymph of L. vannamei were alanine, glycine, argnine, proline, lysine which were considered to be specific osmotic effectors. Contrary to the reduction of hemocyanin, injection of DA 10(-6) mol shrimp(-1) and 5-HT 10(-6) mol shrimp(-1) induced notable protein increase respectively, which led to the rapid reduction of hemocyanin/protein ratio in range of 63.2% to 78.3%. The increase of hemolymph FAAs might come from the new amino acid synthesis or degradation of muscle protein to FAAs or denovo synthesis of FAAs. Our study showed that dopamine plays an important role in neurotransmission and causes osmoregulation response modulation and 5-HT has different activation mechanism on osmoregulation.

Biogenic amine modulation of honey bee sociability and nestmate affiliation.

Biogenic amines modulate a range of social behaviours, including sociability and mechanisms of group cohesion, in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Here, we tested if the biogenic amines modulate honey bee (Apis mellifera) sociability and nestmate affiliation. We examined the consequences of treatments with biogenic amines, agonists and antagonists on a bee's approach to, and subsequent social interactions with, conspecifics in both naturally hive-reared bees and isolated bees. We used two different treatment methods. Bees were first treated topically with compounds dissolved in the solvent dimethylformamide (dMF) applied to the dorsal thorax, but dMF had a significant effect on the locomotion and behaviour of the bees during the behavioural test that interfered with their social responses. Our second method used microinjection to deliver biogenic amines to the head capsule via the ocellar tract. Microinjection of dopamine and a dopamine antagonist had strong effects on bee sociability, likelihood of interaction with bees, and nestmate affiliation. Octopamine treatment reduced social interaction with other bees, and serotonin increased the likelihood of social interactions. HPLC measurements showed that isolation reduced brain levels of biogenic amines compared to hive-reared bees. Our findings suggest that dopamine is an important neurochemical component of social motivation in bees. This finding advances a comparative understanding of the processes of social evolution.

Dietary Neurotransmitters: A Narrative Review on Current Knowledge.

Foods are natural sources of substances that may exert crucial effects on the nervous system in humans. Some of these substances are the neurotransmitters (NTs) acetylcholine (ACh), the modified amino acids glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and the biogenic amines dopamine, serotonin (5-HT), and histamine. In neuropsychiatry, progressive integration of dietary approaches in clinical routine made it necessary to discern the more about some of these dietary NTs. Relevant books and literature from PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for data on food sources of Ach, glutamate, GABA, dopamine, 5-HT, and histamine. Different animal foods, fruits, edible plants, roots, and botanicals were reported to contain NTs. These substances can either be naturally present, as part of essential metabolic processes and ecological interactions, or derive from controlled/uncontrolled food technology processes. Ripening time, methods of preservation and cooking, and microbial activity further contributes to NTs. Moreover, gut microbiota are considerable sources of NTs. However, the significance of dietary NTs intake needs to be further investigated as there are no significant data on their bioavailability, neuronal/non neuronal effects, or clinical implications. Evidence-based interventions studies should be encouraged.

Neurochemical mechanisms of the dorsal pallidum in the antiaversive effects of anxiolytics in various models of anxiety.

In conditions in which rats had a free choice between dark and light chambers, microinjections of glutamic acid, serotonin, and campiron into the globus pallidus showed that these agents have antiaversive properties in a threatening situation test but not in an illuminated area test. Dopamine, apomorphine, GABA, chlordiazepoxide, phenibut, and indoter injected locally into this formation of the basal ganglia had no effect on the mechanisms of voluntary movement but counteracted anxiety states in both behavioral models. These results provide evidence that the monoaminergic and aminoacidergic systems of the dorsal pallidum have different functional roles in the operative regulation of behavior for aversive stimuli of different modalities. Prior intraperitoneal administration of functional antagonists of these synaptotropic substances and subsequent microinjection of transmitter monoamines and amino acids and their agonists into the globus pallidus demonstrated the selective involvement of the neurotransmitter systems of the dorsal pallidum in the antiaversive effects of anxiosedative and anxioselective substances.

Regulatory roles of biogenic amines and juvenile hormone in the reproductive behavior of the western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus).

Mating induces behavioral and physiological changes in the plant bug Lygus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae). After receiving seminal products, which include the systemic regulator juvenile hormone (JH), females enter a post-mating period lasting several days during which they enhance their oviposition rate and lose interest in remating. To elucidate the regulation of these behavioral changes in L. hesperus, biogenic amines were quantified in the heads of females at 5 min, 1 h and 24 h after copulation and compared to levels in virgins using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection. Mating significantly increased dopamine (DA) after 1 and 24 h, and decreased octopamine (OA) after 5 min and 1 h. Serotonin did not change with mating, but tyramine was significantly reduced after 5 min. While injection of amines into virgin females did not influence sexual receptivity, OA caused a decrease in oviposition during the 24 h following injection. Topical application of the JH analog methoprene to virgins caused an increase in DA, and a decline in mating propensity, but did not influence other amines or the oviposition rate. The results suggest the decline in OA observed immediately after mating may promote egg laying, and that male-derived JH may induce an increase in DA that could account for the post-mating loss of sexual receptivity.

Modulatory role for biogenic amines in the cerebral cortex. Microiontophoretic studies.

In order to investigate the mode of action of biogenic amines in rat cerebral cortex, the unitary activity of spontaneously firing neurons and their excitatory response to acetylcholine (ACh) were examined using microiontophoretic administration of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5-HT). The predominant effect of these biogenic amines on the spontaneous activity was a profound and prolonged inhibition of firing (2-4 min), which attained its maximum within 15-120 sec. This response was generally more abrupt in onset and of greater magnitude with NA and 5-HT than with DA. Most units inhibited by DA, NA and 5-HT also showed marked depression of their excitatory response to ACh when pretreated with these biogenic amines. With repetitive administration of ACh, it could be shown that the total duration of inhibition of ACh responses by DA and NA was not as prolonged as the inhibition of the spontaneous firing of the same cells. With 5-HT, the initial ACh responses of many neurons could be completely blocked, and this inhibitory effect lasted as long as the inhibition of spontaneous firing. In view of the anatomical data demonstrating a relative sparsity of monoamine nerve terminals in cerebral cortex, the strong inhibition induced by DA, NA or 5-HT may have reflected slow inactivation of the biogenic amines. However, it could also be indicative of underlying mechanisms of action dependent on metabolic changes. Indeed, the interaction between biogenic amines and ACh might imply a balance between the intracellular pools of cAMP and cGMP is directly or indirectly influenced by the biogenic amines and ACh, respectively. This hypothesis would not exclude other modes of local interaction between DA, NA, 5-HT and ACh, and appears compatible with the modulatory role of biogenic amines in cerebral cortex.

The effect of biogenic amine modifiers on morphine analgesia and its antagonism by naloxone.

The stimulation of dopaminergic receptors, inhibition of serotonin synthesis or blockade of muscarinic receptors by various modifiers led to inhibition of morphine analgesia in mice. Blockade of dopaminergic receptors or the increase in serotonergic or cholinergic activity resulted in the enhancement of morphine analgesia. Serotonergic and cholinergic systems are proposed as positive and the dopaminergic system as negative modulators of morphine analgesia. The modulation of naloxone antagonism was much more complicated than that of morphine analgesia and often the effect of biogenic amine modifiers on antagonism differed from that on analgesia. The fact than biogenic amine modifiers do not affect morphine analgesia and naloxone antagonism by a similar pattern suggests that interaction of narcotics and narcotic antagonists with analgesic receptors may not be exactly the same.

Action of biogenic amines injected intracerebrally on duration of hexobarbital-induced sleep in rats.

The influence of intracerebrally injected biogenic amines and cyclic AMP dibutyrate on duration of sleep induced with hexobarbital (50 mg/kg i.v.) in rats was studied. Duration of sleep was markedly prolonged by adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, 5-hydroxydopamine and acetylcholine. Cyclic AMP dibutyrate injected 30 minutes before hexobarbital shortened time of sleep. The role of biogenic amines in hexobarbital-induced sleep is discussed.

[Effect of biogenic amines on phosphorolysis and gamma-amylolysis of glycogen in the cardiac muscle of rats under anesthesia]. / Vliianie biogennykh aminov na fosforoliz i gamma-amiloliz glikogena v serdechnoi myshtse krysy pri anestezii.

Adrenaline, poradrenaline, serotonin, triptamine and 3-hydroxytyramine activated glycogen phosphorolysis in heart of nonanesthetized rats due to increase in the phosphorylase A activity. Anesthesia with nembutal and ether prevented the stimulating effect of biogenic amines (excluding serotonin) on phosphorolysis. Adrenaline, administered into animals anesthetized with nembutal, inhibited the glycogen phosphorolysis. Noradrenaline caused a decrease in gamma-amylolysis of glycogen in anesthetized and untreated rats. The inhibitory effect of adrenaline on glycogen gamma-amylolysis occurred in rat heart muscle only under the conditions of anesthesia.

Aminergic control of social status in crayfish agonistic encounters.

Using pairings of male crayfish Procambarus clarkii with a 3-7% difference in size, we confirmed that physically larger crayfish were more likely to win encounters (winning probability of over 80%). Despite a physical disadvantage, small winners of the first pairings were more likely to win their subsequent conflicts with larger naive animals (winning probability was about 70%). By contrast, the losers of the first pairings rarely won their subsequent conflicts with smaller naive animals (winning probability of 6%). These winner and loser effects were mimicked by injection of serotonin and octopamine. Serotonin-injected naive small crayfish were more likely to win in pairings with untreated larger naive crayfish (winning probability of over 60%), while octopamine-injected naive large animals were beaten by untreated smaller naive animals (winning probability of 20%). Furthermore, the winner effects of dominant crayfish were cancelled by the injection of mianserin, an antagonist of serotonin receptors and were reinforced by the injection of fluoxetin, serotonin reuptake inhibitor, just after the establishment of social order of the first pairings. Injection of octopamine channel blockers, phentolamine and epinastine, by contrast, cancelled the loser effects. These results strongly suggested that serotonin and octopamine were responsible for winner and loser effects, respectively.

Drosophila CPEB Orb2A mediates memory independent of Its RNA-binding domain.

Long-term memory and synaptic plasticity are thought to require the synthesis of new proteins at activated synapses. The CPEB family of RNA binding proteins, including Drosophila Orb2, has been implicated in this process. The precise mechanism by which these molecules regulate memory formation is however poorly understood. We used gene targeting and site-specific transgenesis to specifically modify the endogenous orb2 gene in order to investigate its role in long-term memory formation. We show that the Orb2A and Orb2B isoforms, while both essential, have distinct functions in memory formation. These two isoforms have common glutamine-rich and RNA-binding domains, yet Orb2A uniquely requires the former and Orb2B the latter. We further show that Orb2A induces Orb2 complexes in a manner dependent upon both its glutamine-rich region and neuronal activity. We propose that Orb2B acts as a conventional CPEB to regulate transport and/or translation of specific mRNAs, whereas Orb2A acts in an unconventional manner to form stable Orb2 complexes that are essential for memory to persist.

Uso de aminas bioativas na dieta de aves de corte: uma revisão / Use of bioactive amines in the cutting bird diet: a review

Aminas bioativas vêm, ao longo dos anos, despertando o interesse dos pesquisadores no que se refere aos benefícios e aos prejuízos da sua presença ou mesmo do seu uso intencional, principalmente na alimentação de aves de corte, refletindo posteriormente na qualidade da carne produzida pelas mesmas. A presença de determinadas aminas em rações de aves de corte pode beneficiar e acelerar o desenvolvimento das mesmas, no entanto, quando presente em níveis elevados pode retardar o crescimento, causar disfunções metabólicas ou mesmo a morte dos animais. Estudos vêm sendo realizados a fim de definir quantidades ideais e tipos de aminas a ser adicionada à dieta a fim de propiciar um desenvolvimento adequado às aves sem, no entanto, apresentar resíduos na carne das mesmas.