Monoamine fluctuations during the reproductive cycle of the Pacific lion's paw scallop Nodipecten subnodosus.

The Pacific lion's paw scallop Nodipecten subnodosus has been one of the most important commercial species of mollusc in the Baja California peninsula in Mexico since 1990. This species is a functional hermaphrodite with tropical and sub-tropical distributions and experiences wide annual temperature oscillations influencing its physiological functions. We determined norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and serotonin (5-HT) concentrations in different organs (female and male gonads, digestive gland, adductor muscle, gill, mantle, and foot) of N. subnodosus, at 6 reproductive stages (resting, initial, maturing, mature, partially spent and fully spent). Monoamine concentrations were determined by HPLC fitted with an electrochemical detector. Results indicated that monoamine concentrations increased during maturing stage, peaked at mature stage and declined after spawning. NE concentrations were higher than the rest of monoamines followed by DA, and 5-HT. NE was present in all organs at all reproductive stages. DA concentrations were higher in the gill and digestive gland during all stages. 5-HT was only detectable in the male gonadic portion at all stages except at spent stage. NE was the most abundant neurotransmitter found in the female gonad of N. subnodosus, while 5-HT was the most abundant neurotransmitter found in the male gonad. Furthermore, these two neurotransmitters accumulated in the respective gonad tissues during the initial reproductive stages I to IV and then declined after spawning (stages V and VI). This suggests that this species utilized different neurotransmitters specific for each gender and that this utilization was related to the reproductive cycle.