The innervation of the salivary gland of the moth, Manduca sexta: evidence that dopamine is the transmitter.
1. Using the Falck-Hillarp histochemical technique for monoamines, evidence was found for the presence of a catecholamine in the salivary gland nerves of the moth, Manduca sexta. 2. The innervation was studied with the electron microscope. Only the fluid-secreting region of the gland is innervated and the nerve endings are characteristic of monoamine-containing terminals. 3. Using a sensitive enzymatic-isotopic assay for catecholamines, it was found that whole salivary glands contain 0.33 mug/g dopamine but no noradrenaline. 4. It seems likely that dopamine mediates fluid-secretion in the salivary gland of Manduca as it does a number of other arthropods.
D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D009036:Moths / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000294:innervation*
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D004298:Dopamine