The review is devoted to the functions and mechanisms participated by neurotransmitters in the early embryogenesis of various species. The specific feature of these mechanisms are described such as multiplicity of transmitters and receptors that are expressed in the individual cell also as intracellular and membrane localization of transmitter receptors. The sequence of developmental processes where transmitters take part is listed.

Известно, что нейротрансмиттеры, в т.ч. серотонин и ацетилхолин, выполняют целый ряд донервных функций в раннем развитии морских ежей. Для выявления конкретных рецепторных компонентов, вовлеченных в эти процессы, был проведен анализ баз данных, и среди EST-клонов, полученных из ранних зародышей Paracentrotus lividus, выявлены нуклеотидные последовательности, гомологичные серотониновому рецептору 4 типа и 6- и 10-субъединицам никотинового холино-рецептора. Экспрессия этих транскриптов в раннем развитии продемонстрирована методом ОТ-ПЦР. Эти результаты являются первым молекулярно-биологическим свидетельством экспрессии рецепторов серотонина и ацетилхолина в раннем развитии морских ежей.

The dated treatment of the early embryos of an irregular (flat) sea urchin Scaphechinus mirabilis by neuropharmacological drugs (anti-neurotransmitters) during one of the first four cleavage divisions results in the impairment of intercellular connections and leads to the formation of twin embryos, dwarf embryos, embryos of the dumb-bell shape etc. In the experiments with some of the drugs under study such developmental abnormalities were not seen or were expressed much more weakly when serotonin or bufotenin (N,N-dimethylserotonin) were added to the medium. A suggestion is put forward that the early embryos possess an intracellular mechanism participating in the interaction between the cells and operating via endogenous monoamines, primarily serotonin.