Effect of hormones and hormone-induced imprinting on the serotonin level in Tetrahymena: immunocytochemical studies.
Tetrahymena contains serotonin (5-HT) which it is able to take up from the environment and store. The relatives of serotonin and its basic amino acid (tryptophane, 5-hydroxytryptophane, gramine) induce a decrease of serotonin just after treatment. Subsequently (24 h), there is an increase of 5-HT which is followed by a permanent decrease in the offspring generations 1 week later. Histamine has a different effect causing an increase in serotonin immediately after treatment, which then returns to the control level after 24 h. In the daughter cells of the histamine pretreated (imprinted) cells there is an enormous increase of 5-HT at the second encounter with histamine. Thyroxine and its precursors (tyrosine, monoiodotyrosine, diiodotyrosine, triiodothyronine) are able to influence the 5-HT level, particularly diiodotyrosine, and previous experiments have demonstrated the outstanding influence of precursor molecules on the growth of Tetrahymena. The effect of non-hormone peptides and peptide hormones on the level of serotonin varies, and there are more characteristic changes in the 5-HT level with the use of hormones having known physiological effects on Tetrahymena.
Csaba
G
G
Department of Biology, Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
Kovács
P
P
D000818:Animals; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013769:Tetrahymena pyriformis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D012701:Serotonin; D006632:Histamine; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone