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Detection of catecholamines in single specimens of groundwater amphipods

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Abstract

Catecholamines play essential roles in several physiological processes in vertebrates as well as in invertebrates. While several studies have shown the presence of these substances in surface water invertebrates, their occurrence in groundwater fauna is unproven. In the present study, the presence of different catecholamines (i.e., noradrenaline, adrenaline, and dopamine) in individual specimens of groundwater amphipods of the genus Niphargus (mostly Niphargus inopinatus) was investigated via two independent analytical methods: HPLC/EcD and UPLC/TOF-MS. Mean values for catecholamine levels were 533 pg mg−1 fresh weight for noradrenaline, 314 pg mg−1 for adrenaline, and 16.4 ng mg−1 for dopamine. The optimized protocol allowed the detection of CAs in single organisms of less than 1 mg fresh weight. Catecholamine concentration patterns in groundwater invertebrates are briefly discussed here with respect to their evolutionary adaptation to an environmentally stable, energy-poor habitat.

Niphargus inopinatus SCHELLENBERG (photo: Günter Teichmann,Helmholtz Center Munich)

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Acknowledgements

Maria Avramov and Christian Griebler were involved in conceptual project development, performed the sampling, and determined the amphipod species present. Moreover, both authors substantially contributed to data interpretation as well as the writing and editing of the manuscript. M.A. received financial support in terms of a scholarship by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU, grant 20009/005, 2009–2012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helmholtz Zentrum München—German Research Center for Environmental Health, Molecular Exposomics, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Gerd Pfister, Julia Rieb, Theresa Rock & Karl-Werner Schramm

  2. Helmholtz Zentrum München—German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Maria Avramov & Christian Griebler

  3. Technische Universität München, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung und Landnutzung, Department für Biowissenschaften, Weihenstephaner Steig 23, 85350, Freising, Germany

    Karl-Werner Schramm

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  1. Gerd Pfister
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  2. Julia Rieb
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  3. Maria Avramov
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  4. Theresa Rock
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Correspondence to Gerd Pfister.

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Pfister, G., Rieb, J., Avramov, M. et al. Detection of catecholamines in single specimens of groundwater amphipods. Anal Bioanal Chem 405, 5571–5582 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-6952-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-6952-8

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