Abstract
The unicellular organism Tetrahymena contains serotonin and is able to take up the hormone from its mileiu. The serotonin content of the cell changes as a function of the presence of foreign exogenous hormones. This indicates a possible role of serotonin as a chemical mediator. Exogenous serotonin stimulates the RNA synthesis of Tetrahymena, and it was the only one among the hormones studied which kept the RNA level durably high. Serotonin stimulates phagocytosis and growth of Tetrahymena, and its precursors also stimulate growth. Serotonin can imprint Tetrahymena, and as a consequence of this the effect of the hormone increases in the case of further encounters. Treatment with serotonin-related molecules soon after imprinting can reduce the effect of imprinting. Melatonin can contract the pigment cells of Planaria; however, its precursors serotonin and tryptamine can do this more intensely. Both melatonin and serotonin can influenc the regeneration of Planaria, with effects which differ when different phenomena are studied. Evolutionary theories are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blum, J. J., An adrenergic control system in Tetrahymena? Proc. natl Acad. Sci. USA51 (1967) 81–88.
Brizzi, G., and Blum, J. J., Effect of growth conditions on serotonin content ofTetrahymena pyriformis. J. Protozool.17 (1970) 553–555.
Gastrodad, F. A., Renaud, F. L., Ortiz, J., and Phillips, D. M., Biogenic amines stimulate regeneration of cilia inTetrahymena thermophila. J. Protozool.35 (1988) 260–264.
Csaba, G., Phylogeny and ontogeny of hormone receptors: the selection theory of receptor formation and hormonal imprinting. Biol. Rev.55 (1980) 47–63.
Csaba, G., The present state in the phylogeny and ontogeny of hormone receptors. Horm. Metab. Res.16 (1984) 329–335.
Csaba, G., The unicellular Tetrahymena as a model cell for receptor research. Intl Rev. Cytol.95 (1985) 327–377.
Csaba, G., Why do hormone receptors arise? Experientia42 (1986) 715–718.
Csaba, G., and Lantos, T., Effect of hormones on protozoa. Studies on the phagocytotic effect of histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and indoleacetic acid inTetrahymena pyriformis. Cytobiologie7 (1973) 361–365.
Csaba, G., and Bierbauer, J., Investigations on the specificity of hormone receptors in Planarians. Gen. comp. Endocr.22 (1974) 132–134.
Csaba, G., Kapa, E., and Cserhalmi, M., Hormonal receptor studies — frog macrophage cells by means of histamine, serotonin and indoleacetic acid. Endokrinologie65 (1975) 219–223.
Csaba, G., Nagy, S. U., and Lantos, T., Are biogenic amines acting on Tetrahymena through a cyclic AMP mechanism? Acta biol. med. germ.35 (1976) 259–261.
Csaba, G., Nagy, S. U., and Lantos, T., Cyclic AMP and its functional relationship in Tetrahymena: a comparison between phagocytosis and glucose uptake. Acta biol. med. germ.37 (1978) 505–507.
Csaba, G., Bierbauer, J., and FehéZ, Z., Influence of melatonin and its precursors on the pigment cells of Planaria (Dugesia lugubris). Comp. Biochem. Physiol.67C (1980) 207–209.
Csaba, G., Németh, G., and Prohászka, J., Effect of hormones and related compounds on the multiplication of Tetrahymena. Exp. cell. Biol.47 (1979) 307–311.
Csaba, G., and Németh, G., Enhancement of the sensitivity of Tetrahymena to a second hormone influence by hormone treatment. Acta biol. med. germ.39 (1980) 1027–1030.
Csaba, G., and Németh, G., Effect of hormones and their precursors on protozoa — the selective responsiveness of Tetrahymena. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.65B (1980) 387–390.
Csaba, G., Németh, G., Juvancz, I., and Vargha, P., Receptor amplifying effect of serotonin and serotonin analogues in a protozoan (Tetrahymena) model system. Acta physiol. hung.56 (1980) 411–416.
Csaba, G., and Ubornyák, L., Effect of hormones on the RNA synthesis ofTetrahymena pyriformis. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.68C (1981) 251–253.
Csaba, G., and Németh, G., Effect of combined and repeated hormone treatment on the growth of the Tetrahymena. Acta biol. hung.33 (1982) 87–89.
Csaba, G., Németh, G., and Varga, P., Attempt to disturb receptor memory in a unicellular (Tetrahymena) model system. Acta physiol. hung.51 (1983) 131–136.
Csaba, G., Sudár, F., and Ubornyák, L., Comparative study of the internalization and nuclear localisation of amino acid type hormones in Tetrahymena and rat lymphocytes. Exp. clin. Endocr.82 (1983) 61–67.
Csaba, G., Inczefi-Gonda, Á., and Fehér, T., Induction of steroid binding sites (receptor) and presence of steroid hormones in the unicellularTetrahymena pyriformis. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.82A (1985) 567–569.
Csaba, G., and Kovács, P. Effect of hormones and hormone induced imprinting on the serotonin level of Tetrahymena. Immunocytochemical studies. Microbios. in press.
Darvas, Z., Árva, G., Csaba, G., and Varga, P., Enhancement of cilia regeneration by hormone treatment of Tetrahymena. Acta microbiol. hung.35 (1988) 45–48.
Essman, E. J., The serotonergic system inTetrahymena pyriformis. La Ricerca Clin. Lab.17 (1987) 77–82.
Franquinet, R., Role de la serotonine et des catecholamines dans la régeneration de la PlanariePolycelis tenuis. J. Embryol. exp. Morph.51 (1979) 85–95.
Franquinet, R., Le Moigne, A., and Hanoue, J., The adenylate cyclase system of PlanariePolycelis tenuis: activation by serotonin and guanine nucleotides. Biochim. biophys. Acta539 (1978) 88–92.
Freedman, J. M., Roche, J. M., and Blum, J. J., Monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl transferase activity in Tetrahymena. J. Protozool.24 (1977) 459–462.
Goldman, M. E., Gundersen, R., Erickson, C. K., and Thompson, G. A., High performance liquid chromatography analysis of catecholamine in growing and non-growing Tetrahymena. Biochim. biophys. Acta576 (1981) 221–225.
Kariya, K., Saito, K., and Iwata, H., Adrenergic mechanism in Tetrahymena. cAMP and cell proliferation. Jap. J. Pharmac.24 (1974) 129–134.
Kimmel, H. D., and Carlyon, W. D., Persistent effects of a serotonin depleter (p-chlorophenylalanine) in regenerated Planaria (Dugesia dorotocephala). Behavl Neurosci.104 (1990) 137–134.
Koch, A. S., Fehér, J., and Lukovics, I., Single model of dynamic receptor pattern generation. Biol. Cybernat.32 (1979) 125–138.
Kovács, P., Csaba, G., and Csöregh, É., Influence of endocytosis stimulating hormones on the protein binding capacity of the cell membrane. Acta physiol. hung.61 (1983) 213–216.
Kovács, P., and Csaba, G., Effects of hormones on the multiplication of the heterotrichous protozoonBlepharisma undulans (Stein). Acta microbiol. hung.35 (1988) 107–113.
Kovács, P., and Csaba, G., Involvement of the phosphoinositol (PI) system in the mechanism of hormonal imprinting. Biochem. biophs. Res. Comm.170 (1990) 119–126.
Kovács, P., Csaba, G., Nagao, S., and Nozawa, Y., The regulatory role of calmodulin dependent guanylate cyclase in association with hormonal influences in Tetrahymena. Microbios59 (1989) 123–128.
Le Roith, D., Shiloach, J., Roth, J., and Lesniak, M. A., Evolutionary origins of vertebrate hormones: substances similar to mammalian insulin are native to unicellular eukaryotes Proc. natl Acad. Sci. USA77 (1980) 6584–6588
Le Roith, D., Shiloach, J. Berelowitz, M, Frohman, L. A., Liotta, A. S., Krieger, D. T. and Roth, J., Are messenger molecules in microbes the ancestors of the vertebrate hormones and tissue factors. Fed. Proc.42 (1983) 2602–2607.
Muto, Y., Kudo, S., and Nozawa, Y., Effect of local anaesthetics on calmodulin dependent guanylate cyclase in the plasma membrane ofTetrahymena pyriformis. Biochem. Pharmac.32 (1983) 3559–3563.
Nakaoka, Y., and Ooi, H., Regulation of ciliary reversal in Triton X-extracted Paramecium by calcium and cyclic adenosine monophosphate. J. Cell Sci.77 (1985) 185–196
Nanney, D. L., Experimental ciliatology. Wiley and Sons, New York 1980.
Nobili, R., Luporini, P., and Esposito, F., Compatibility system in ciliates, in: Invertebrate Models, Cell Receptors and Cell Communication, pp. 6–28. Ed. A. H. Greenberg, Karger, Basel-New York 1987
Renaud, F. L., Chiesa, R., De Jesus, J. M., Lopez, A., Miranda, J., and Tomassini, N., Hormones and signal transmission in protozoa. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.100 (1991) 41–45.
Rodriguez, N., and Renaud, F. L., On the possible role of serotonin in the regulation of regeneration of cilia. J. Cell Biol.85 (1980) 242–247.
Roth, J., Le Roith, D., Shiloach, J., Rosenzweig, D., Lesniak, M. A., and Havrankova, J., The evolutionary origin of hormones, neurotransmitters and the extracellular messengers. New Engl. J. Med.306 (1982) 523–527.
Schultz, J. E., Schönfeld, U., and Klumpp, S., Calcium/calmodulin — regulated guanylate cyclase and calcium permeability in the ciliary membrane from Tetrahymena. Eur. J. Biochem.137 (1983) 89–94.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Csaba, G. Presence in and effects of pineal indoleamines at very low level of phylogeny. Experientia 49, 627–634 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01923943
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01923943