title: Catecholaminergic System of Invertebrates: Comparative and Evolutionary Aspects in Comparison With the Octopaminergic System.
abstract: In this review we examined the catecholaminergic system of invertebrates, starting from protists and getting to chordates. Different techniques used by numerous researchers revealed, in most examined phyla, the presence of catecholamines dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline or of the enzymes involved in their synthesis. The catecholamines are generally linked to the nervous system and they can act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and hormones; moreover they play a very important role as regards the response to a large number of stress situations. Nevertheless, in some invertebrate phyla belonging to Protostoma, the monoamine octopamine is the main biogenic amine. The presence of catecholamines in some protists suggests a role as intracellular or interorganismal signaling molecules and an ancient origin of their synthetic pathways. The catecholamines appear also involved in the regulation of bioluminescence and in the control of larval development and metamorphosis in some marine invertebrate phyla.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Electronic address: valentina.gallo@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Valentina P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fiorenza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Accordi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chimenti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Civinini
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy, University of Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crivellato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D009655:Octopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D009655:Octopamine
keywords: adrenaline; biogenic amines; catecholamines; dopamine; invertebrates.; noradrenaline; octopamine; protists