Elizabeth B. Andrews

Presence of a toxin in the salivary glands of the marine snail Cymatium intermedius that targets nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Presence of a toxin in the salivary glands of the marine snail Cymatium intermedius that targets nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Toxicon 36, 25-29, 1998.-We present evidence of a neurotoxin from the salivary glands of Cymatium intermedius that displays acetylcholine-like effects on vertebrate (mouse ileum) and invertebrate (molluscan smooth muscle; molluscan heart; leech body wall) tissues. These effects were completely blocked by (+)-tubocurarine (10-100 muM) but not by atropine (up to 200 muM) suggesting that the toxin targets nicotinic-like acetylcholine receptors. This affirms the proposal that this genus may overcome their prey with a paralytic secretion.

Isolation of serotonin from the accessory salivary glands of the marine snail Nucella lapillus

We report here the presence of a bioactive compound in the secretion of the accessory salivary glands (ASGs) of Nucella lapillus. We have purified the compound using HPLC and identified it as serotonin by mass spectrometry, UV spectroscopy, HPLC and capillary electrophoresis. Serotonin was not found in the secretions of the acinous salivary glands or the hypobranchial gland. The amount of serotonin in the secretion of the ASGs does not show seasonal or regional variation.

WINDOWS ON A LILLIPUTIAN WORLD: A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRON MICROSCOPY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

The early development and blossoming of electron microscopy in the twentieth century are outlined with particular reference to biological applications, and the establishment and demise of facilities for the Faculty of Science in a London college are charted in relation to funding, staffing, and economic pressures. Use of these facilities for research, teaching and the promotion of science declined as the pressure to maximize outside income increased.