[The monoamines in molluscs. I. Catecholamines: biosynthesis, disposition and inactivation (author's transl)]

The central nervous system of the mollusc Helix pomatia, like that of other molluscs, contains a very high level of dopamine. However, noradrenaline is weakly represented. These characteristics apply to the peripheral nervous system and more particularly to the heart. The study of the phenomena taking part in the synthesis and inactivation of catecholamines shows that these processes are not different in vertebrates and molluscs. Thus, in the particular case of Helix pomatia the synthesis of catecholamines is carried out by tyrosine hydroxylase, aromatic amino acid decarboxylase and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. These enzymes are not only active in the ganglia and nerves, but also in the peripheral nervous system. The monoamines are associated with granules. The synthesized enzymes in the pericarya migrate due to the axonal flow and accumulate in the intracardiac nerve endings. In Helix pomatia, the enzymes participate actively in the local synthesis of catecholamines using the precursors tyrosine and DOPA. We have little information on the uptake of dopamine by nervous structures, but it would seem that this phenomenon seems to play an active role in the synaptic inactivation of dopamine. The glial elements also play a part in uptake and inactivation. In most species the nervous system has very little monoamine oxidase, and there is even less in the heart. The enzymic activity depends on substrates and is more active with dopamine than with 5-hydroxytryptamine. The exact localization of monoamine oxidase in the tissues is unknown. However, we believe that it plays a part in the neuronal regulation of dopamine levels and in its synaptic inactivation. The same applies for catechol O-methyltransferase.