@misc{BlenauTroppmannWalz2007, author = {Blenau, Wolfgang and Troppmann, Britta and Walz, Bernd}, title = {Pharmacology of serotonin-induced salivary secretion in Periplaneta americana}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-44319}, year = {2007}, abstract = {The acinar salivary gland of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, is innervated by dopaminergic and serotonergic nerve fibers. Stimulation of the glands by serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) results in the production of a protein-rich saliva, whereas stimulation by dopamine results in saliva that is protein-free. Thus, dopamine acts selectively on ion-transporting peripheral cells within the acini, and 5-HT acts on protein-producing central cells. We have investigated the pharmacology of the 5-HT-induced secretory activity of isolated salivary glands of P. americana by testing several 5-HT receptor agonists and antagonists. The effects of 5-HT can be mimicked by the non-selective 5-HT receptor agonist 5-methoxytryptamine. All tested agonists that display at least some receptor subtype specificity in mammals, i.e., 5-carboxamidotryptamine, (+/-)-8-OH-DPAT, (+/-)-DOI, and AS 19, were ineffective in stimulating salivary secretion. 5-HT-induced secretion can be blocked by the vertebrate 5-HT receptor antagonists methiothepin, cyproheptadine, and mianserin. Our pharmacological data indicate that the pharmacology of arthropod 5-HT receptors is remarkably different from that of their vertebrate counterparts. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @misc{TroppmannBalfanzKrachetal.2014, author = {Troppmann, Britta and Balfanz, Sabine and Krach, Christian and Baumann, Arnd and Blenau, Wolfgang}, title = {Characterization of an Invertebrate-Type Dopamine Receptor of the American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana}, series = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {15}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, number = {1}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms15010629}, pages = {629 -- 653}, year = {2014}, abstract = {We have isolated a cDNA coding for a putative invertebrate-type dopamine receptor (Peadop2) from P. americana brain by using a PCR-based strategy. The mRNA is present in samples from brain and salivary glands. We analyzed the distribution of the PeaDOP2 receptor protein with specific affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies. On Western blots, PeaDOP2 was detected in protein samples from brain, subesophageal ganglion, thoracic ganglia, and salivary glands. In immunocytochemical experiments, we detected PeaDOP2 in neurons with their somata being located at the anterior edge of the medulla bilaterally innervating the optic lobes and projecting to the ventro-lateral protocerebrum. In order to determine the functional and pharmacological properties of the cloned receptor, we generated a cell line constitutively expressing PeaDOP2. Activation of PeaDOP2-expressing cells with dopamine induced an increase in intracellular cAMP. In contrast, a C-terminally truncated splice variant of this receptor did not exhibit any functional property by itself. The molecular and pharmacological characterization of the first dopamine receptor from P. americana provides the basis for forthcoming studies focusing on the significance of the dopaminergic system in cockroach behavior and physiology.}, language = {en} }