Abstract
Exposure to water-borne pollutants, environmental stressors and pathological agents of a crustacean capable of osmoregulation usually results in a decrease of its Na + and Cl − regulation and/or of its osmoregulatory capacity (OC: difference between the osmotic pressures of the hemolymph and of the external medium, at a given salinity). The partial or complete loss of osmoregulatory and ionoregulatory capacity is generally linked to disruptions of the osmotic and ionic regulations. Different causes of these variations include alterations in the structure and ultrastructure of the branchial and excretory organs and changes in Na +,K +-ATPase activity, ionic fluxes and surface permeability. OC appears therefore as a nonspecific bioindicator. Hyper-OC and/or hypo-OC can be measured according to the type of osmoregulation of the species, respectively, in low-salinity media and in seawater or high-salinity media. Provided several precautions are taken (control of salinity and temperature, size, nutritional status, developmental stage, molt stage, use of controls), measurement of OC variations is proposed as a convenient and reliable way to monitor the physiological condition and the effect of stressors in crustaceans.
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