Evidence of dopa in the nerves of sea anemones.

An analysis of the presence of catechol-derivatives in the sea anemones Metridium senile and Tealia felina, made with the aid of high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), established the presence of dopa, 5-OH-dopa, and 5-S-cysteinyldopa. In addition, 2-S-cysteinyldopa and 2.5-diSS-cysteinyldopa occurred in Metridium. Two unknown substances were found to be present in the tentacles of Metridium and in the tentacles of some specimens of Tealia. Neither catecholamines nor serotonin could be traced in detectable amounts. No dopa-decarboxylase could be demonstrated by the assay performed in this investigation. 6-OH-dopa, 6-OH-dopamine and reserpine had no effect on the formaldehyde-induced fluorescence of the subepithelial tentacular nerve net of Tealia. It is concluded that the tentacular nerve net of sea anemones contains dopa, but neither catecholamines nor serotonin. The localization of the other compounds is not yet established.