Naslov
Comparison of levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine in brains of lizard species Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810) and Podarcis melisellensis (Braun, 1877)

Autori
Josić, Paula

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Ocjenski radovi, diplomski rad, diplomski

Fakultet
Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Biološki odsjek

Mjesto
Zagreb

Datum
28.02

Godina
2018

Stranica
49

Mentor
Blažević, Sofia Ana

Ključne riječi
HPLC, brain, catecholamines, competitive behavior, Lacertidae

Sažetak
Podarcis melisellensis and Podarcis siculus are lizards from the family Lacertidae that inhabit the Mediterranean. When they inhabit the same area, P. siculus competitively excludes P. melisellensis, a potential reason being the difference in affective behavior between these species. In vertebrates, affective behavior is regulated by monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine). To understand the relationship between affective behavior and catecholamines (noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine), we measured concentrations of dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the lizard brain using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV/VIS detection. An existing method developed for separation of monoamines in rat brain was successfully adapted for separation of catecholamine monoamines in lizard brain, with optimal formic acid and acetonitrile mobile phase composition (with acetonitrile portion rising from 2% to 12.5% in ten minutes), gradient steepness and pH 2.80. Linearity and selectivity of the method, as well as reproducibility were satisfactory, proving the method applicable in further research. Dopamine concentrations in the samples of P. melisellensis and P. siculus significantly differed between species but not between sexes, while no significant differences were noted for adrenaline and noradrenaline. This difference in dopamine levels could explain the variance in affective behavior previously reported between these two species. Further research is needed to understand the involvement of catecholamines in the regulation of behavior that greatly affects the survival and ecology of lizard species.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

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