300
FINDLAY E. RUSSELL
biological activity or else our present state of knowledge does not
indicate what activity is present. Finally, the amounts of the various
components of the salivary secretions of cephalopods are subject to
such variations that it is most difficult to determine whether or not a
particularly toxic substance is present in a sufficient amount to be
deleterious to the envenomated victim. The importance of the synergistic effects of several of the toxic components, and of the autopharmacological response, further complicate the consideration of the
chemistry and toxicology of this venom.
With this admittedly fragile apology in mind, I shall note a few
of the substances and biological activities that have been identified
with the salivary glands of cephalopods : tyramine, octopine, agmatine,
adrenaline, noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine7 L-p-hydroxyphenylethanolamine, histamine, dopamine, tryptophan, and certain of the
1 1 -hydroxysteroids, polyphenols, phenolamines, indoleamines and
guanidine bases.
The L-p-hydroxyphenylethanolamine was first described by Erspamer in 1940. It was found in extracts of the posterior salivary
glands of Octopus vulgaris and identified with an adrenaline-like
activity. It is thought to be the precursor of hydroxyoctopamine, or
L-nor-adrenaline (Erspamer, 1952). Hartman et al. (1960), showed that
the content of the posterior salivary glands of 0. apollyon or 0.
bimaculatus decarboxylated ~-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA),
~~-5-hydroxytryptophan, ~~-erythro-3,4-dihydoxyphenylserine, DLerythro-p-hydroxyphenylserine, DL-m-tyrosine, DL-erythro-m-hydroxyphenylserine, histidine, L-histidine, DL-erythro-phenylserine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine, tyrosine and m-tyrosine.
Among the activities that have been demonstrated for the salivary
glands of cephalopods are those shown in Table IV. In general, the
salivary glands of cephalopods contain little or no proteolytic enzymes,
amylases or lipases ; hyaluronidase may be present in some secretions.
Ghiretti (1959) purified a protein, cephalotoxin, from the posterior
salivary glands of Sepia oficinalis which he suggested was the biologically active component of the toxin. It gave positive biuret and
ninhydrin reactions, and had maximum ultra-violet absorption at
276-278 mp. Four bands migrating towards the cathode are seen on
starch gel electrophoresis ,at pH 8.5. Further purification was obtained
by absorption on calcium phosphate gel a t neutral pH, and three bands
were obtained on electrophoresis. Treatment with trypsin at 37°C and
at neutral pH resulted in the complete loss of activity. The toxin
contained no cholinesterase or aminoxidase activity. Analysis of
cephalotoxin from the posterior salivary gland of Octopus vulgaris
FINDLAY E. RUSSELL
biological activity or else our present state of knowledge does not
indicate what activity is present. Finally, the amounts of the various
components of the salivary secretions of cephalopods are subject to
such variations that it is most difficult to determine whether or not a
particularly toxic substance is present in a sufficient amount to be
deleterious to the envenomated victim. The importance of the synergistic effects of several of the toxic components, and of the autopharmacological response, further complicate the consideration of the
chemistry and toxicology of this venom.
With this admittedly fragile apology in mind, I shall note a few
of the substances and biological activities that have been identified
with the salivary glands of cephalopods : tyramine, octopine, agmatine,
adrenaline, noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine7 L-p-hydroxyphenylethanolamine, histamine, dopamine, tryptophan, and certain of the
1 1 -hydroxysteroids, polyphenols, phenolamines, indoleamines and
guanidine bases.
The L-p-hydroxyphenylethanolamine was first described by Erspamer in 1940. It was found in extracts of the posterior salivary
glands of Octopus vulgaris and identified with an adrenaline-like
activity. It is thought to be the precursor of hydroxyoctopamine, or
L-nor-adrenaline (Erspamer, 1952). Hartman et al. (1960), showed that
the content of the posterior salivary glands of 0. apollyon or 0.
bimaculatus decarboxylated ~-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA),
~~-5-hydroxytryptophan, ~~-erythro-3,4-dihydoxyphenylserine, DLerythro-p-hydroxyphenylserine, DL-m-tyrosine, DL-erythro-m-hydroxyphenylserine, histidine, L-histidine, DL-erythro-phenylserine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine, tyrosine and m-tyrosine.
Among the activities that have been demonstrated for the salivary
glands of cephalopods are those shown in Table IV. In general, the
salivary glands of cephalopods contain little or no proteolytic enzymes,
amylases or lipases ; hyaluronidase may be present in some secretions.
Ghiretti (1959) purified a protein, cephalotoxin, from the posterior
salivary glands of Sepia oficinalis which he suggested was the biologically active component of the toxin. It gave positive biuret and
ninhydrin reactions, and had maximum ultra-violet absorption at
276-278 mp. Four bands migrating towards the cathode are seen on
starch gel electrophoresis ,at pH 8.5. Further purification was obtained
by absorption on calcium phosphate gel a t neutral pH, and three bands
were obtained on electrophoresis. Treatment with trypsin at 37°C and
at neutral pH resulted in the complete loss of activity. The toxin
contained no cholinesterase or aminoxidase activity. Analysis of
cephalotoxin from the posterior salivary gland of Octopus vulgaris