title: Neurotransmitter synthesis in Limulus ventral nerve photoreceptors.
abstract: Radiochemical precursor compounds for neurotransmitters were incubated with Limulus ventral nerve photoreceptor preparations. Octopamine was preferentially synthesized by a photoreceptor rich fraction of the nerve, acetylcholine was made by a photoreceptor poor fraction, and gamma-aminobutyric acid was made about equally well in both fractions. The possibility that the ventral nerve photoreceptor cells serve a neurosecretory function in the adult Limulus is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D006737:Horseshoe Crabs / Q000502:physiology*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009655:Octopamine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D009655:Octopamine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000109:Acetylcholine