EFFECT OF MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITOR ON DEVELOPMENTAL MECHANISM IN THE AMPHIBIAN

Abstract

The appearance of monoamine oxidase (MAO) and the responses of cultured embryos to MAO inhibitor were studied in embryos of Hynoblus retardatus Dunn, a salamander living in northern part of Japan. Histochemical studies revealed detectable amounts of MAO in early stages of larva. Overall activity of the enzyme tended to increase parallel to development. The embryos hatched well and developed in the medium containing MAO inhibitor without manifesting severe pathological changes. However, MAO inhibitors were shown to act as skin-lightening agents on the larval skin. On the basis of the present study, a possible role of MAO in the developmental mechanism and mode of the skin-lightening action of MAO inhibitor were discussed.