Developmental changes in dopamine levels in larvae of the fly Chymomyza costata: comparison between wild-type and mutant-nondiapause strains

Dopamine and two related catecholamines, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and N-acetyl dopamine (NADA), were analyzed in whole body and tissue samples taken throughout late larval development of the drosophilid fly Chymomyza costata, which enters facultative diapause as a mature 3rd instar larva in response to short photophase. Wild-type (W) and mutant-nondiapause (M) strains reared under diapause inducing (d) and preventing (nd) photophases were compared. Developmental changes in the whole body of dopamine levels showed some general features irrespective of fly strain and rearing conditions: sharp major peaks during moult from second to third instar larva and during pupariation; lower minor peaks around the middle of both 2nd and 3rd instars. Significant differences between the strains and conditions were also found: dopamine levels were lower throughout the 2nd instar and during the 2nd to 3rd instar moult of mutant strain larvae (M/d) as compared to wild-type larvae (W/nd and W/d); while the late 2nd and late 3rd instar larvae destined to diapause (W/d) maintained relatively high dopamine concentrations, their counterparts destined to continuous development (W/nd and M/d) significantly decreased dopamine levels prior to the 2nd to 3rd instar moult or pupariation. Possible relationship between the dopamine levels and diapause induction/onset in C. costata larvae is discussed. Integument contained more than 90% of the dopamine found in the whole body. The gut and central nervous tissues showed relatively low pools of dopamine, only trace amounts were detected in haemolymph and no dopamine was found in fat body. DOPA levels were low and stable throughout larval development of both W and M strains and under both conditions. NADA levels peaked during second halves of 2nd and 3rd instars of both strains, then dropped to trace levels and were elevated again during 2nd to 3rd instar moult as well as in tanned prepupae. No elevation of NADA levels was recorded in 3rd instar W/d larvae which entered diapause.