PARENT SESSION

2C - Biomarkers
Poster Hall
8:30 AM - Tuesday, 29 April 2003
Chair: Hansen, P.D.¹, ¹
Co-chair: Vindimian, E.², ²

(TUP/97) Use of a catecholamine assay with Hydra sp. for the discovery of new ecotoxicological endpoints.

Severin, Gabriele¹, Jaser, Wolfgang¹, Böttger, Angelika², Schramm, Karl-Werner¹, ¹ GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Neuherberg, Bavaria, Germany² Ludwig Maximilians-University, Dept. Biology II, Zoology, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

ABSTRACT- The concentrations of the catecholamines dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine are indicators for stress in vertebrates. Medical kits exist for the quantification in plasma and urine with HPLC for diagnostics of different disease patterns, e.g. tumor diseases, hypertonia or Morbus Parkinson. We exposed Hydra sp. to various chemical and physical stressors and measured the catecholamine concentrations in their tissue using such an adapted medical kit. The sample preparation method as well as the results in correlation with the stressors are introduced and the suitability of the assay for ecotoxicological testing are discussed.

Key words: Hydra, catecholamines, HPLC