Development of a dopaminergic system in sea urchin embryos and larvae

The mechanisms that regulate the organized swimming movements of sea urchin blastulae are largely unknown. Using immunohistochemistry, we found that dopamine (DA) and the Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus homolog of the dopamine receptor D1 (Hp-DRD1) were strongly co-localized in 1-2 mum diameter granules (DA/DRD1 granules). Furthermore, these granules were arranged across the entire surface of blastulae as they developed locomotory cilia before hatching, and remained evident until metamorphosis. DA/DRD1 granules were associated with the basal bodies of cilia, and were densely packed in the ciliary band by the eight-arm pluteus stage. The transcription of Hp-DRD1 was detected from the unfertilized egg stage throughout the period of larval development. Treatment with S-(-)-carbidopa, an inhibitor of aromatic-l-amino acid decarboxylase, for 20-24 h (i) from soon after insemination until the 20 h post-fertilization (20 hpf) early gastrula stage and (ii) from the 24 hpf prism larva stage until the 48 hpf pluteus stage, inhibited the formation of DA granules and decreased the swimming activity of blastulae and larvae in a dose-dependent manner. Exogenous DA rescued these deprivations. The formation of DRD1 granules was not affected. However, in 48 hpf plutei, the serotonergic nervous system (5HT-NS) developed normally. Morpholino antisense oligonucleotides directed against Hp-DRD1 inhibited the formation of DRD1 granules and the swimming of larvae, but did not disturb the formation of DA granules. Thus, the formation of DRD1 granules and DA granules occurs chronologically closely but mechanically independently and the swimming of blastulae is regulated by the dopaminergic system. In plutei, the 5HT-NS closely surrounded the ciliary bands, suggesting the functional collaboration with the dopaminergic system in larvae.