Chela Muscle Research Articles

Serotonin and dopamine regulate the aggressiveness of swimming crabs (Portunus trituberculatus) in different ways

Bioamines act as a pivotal part in the regulation of aggressive behavior in animals as a type of neuroendocrine, but the patterns of how they regulate aggressiveness in crustaceans are still unclear due to species-specific responses. To determine the effects of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) on the aggressiveness of swimming crabs (Portunus trituberculatus), we quantified their behavioral and physiological characteristics. The results showed that an injection of 5-HT at 0.5 mmol L−1 and 5 mmol L−1 could significantly enhance the aggressiveness of swimming crabs, as well as an injection of DA at 5 mmol L-1. The regulation of 5-HT and DA on aggressiveness is dose-dependent, and these two bioamines have different concentration thresholds that can trigger aggressiveness changes. 5-HT could up-regulate the 5-HTR1 gene expression and increase lactate content at the thoracic ganglion as the aggressiveness enhances, suggesting that 5-HT may activate related receptors and neuronal excitability to regulate aggressiveness. As a result of DA injection at 5 mmol L-1, lactate content in the chela muscle and hemolymph increased, glucose content in the hemolymph increased, and the CHH gene was significantly up-regulated. Pyruvate kinase and hexokinase enzyme activities in the hemolymph increased, which accelerated the glycolysis process. These results demonstrate that DA regulates the lactate cycle, which provides substantial short-term energy for aggressive behavior. Both 5-HT and DA can mediate aggressive behavior in the crab by activating calcium regulation in muscle tissue. We conclude that the enhancement of aggressiveness is a process of energy consumption, in which 5-HT acts on the central nervous system to induce aggressive behavior, and DA affects muscle and hepatopancreas tissue to provide a large amount of energy. This study expands upon the knowledge of regulatory mechanisms of aggressiveness in crustaceans and offers a theoretical foundation for enhancing crab culture management.

Can hyper/hypo-osmoregulating fiddler crabs from the Atlantic coast of South America mobilize intracellular free amino acids as osmotic effectors during salinity challenge?

Weakly osmoregulating crustaceans use intracellular free amino acids (FAA) to attenuate cell volume changes consequent to alterations in hemolymph osmolality. Whether semiterrestrial, strong hyper/hypo-osmoregulators exhibit this ability is unknown. We investigate FAA mobilization in muscle tissue of 10 fiddler crabs from the genera Minuca, Leptuca, and Uca distributed along the Atlantic coast of South America. Crabs were subjected to severe hypo- or hyper-osmotic challenge at their lower or upper critical salinity limits for 5 days; reference crabs were held in isosmotic media. Hemolymph osmolality was measured, chela muscle FAA were identified and quantified, and percent contribution to intracellular osmolality (%FAA) was calculated. At isosmoticity, total FAA were nominally twofold higher in Minuca species (≈116 mmol/kg wet mass) compared to Uca (≈60 mmol/kg wet mass). Glycine, alanine, arginine, and taurine constituted >80% of the total FAA pool. On hyperosmotic challenge, hemolymph osmolalities ranged from 843 to 1282 mOsm/kg H2 O. FAA increased, although %FAA remained unaltered. Hypo-osmoregulating crabs thus can mobilize FAA, likely owing to a lesser ability to secrete salt near their upper critical limits. On hypo-osmotic challenge, osmolalities were regulated more tightly, between 475 and 736 mOsm/kg H2 O. Total FAA and %FAA showed little change, probably due to the crabs' strong hyper-osmotic extracellular regulatory ability, FAA consequently playing a diminished role in isosmotic intracellular regulation (IIR). Total FAA responses to hyper/hypo-osmotic challenge are thus asymmetrical. The lack of phylogenetic signal in FAA mobilization suggests that closely related fiddler crabs do not share similar strategies of IIR.

Profiles of calreticulin and Ca2+ concentration under low temperature and salinity stress in the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain.

Calreticulin (CRT) is an important molecular chaperon crucial to survival of organisms under adverse conditions. In this study, the potential roles of CRT in the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain, were investigated. Firstly, SpCRT gene expression was detected in various tissues of S. paramamosain with the highest expression found in the hepatopancreas. To evaluate potential role of SpCRT in cold adaption, sub-adult crabs were subjected to temperatures of 10, 15, 20 and 25°C and the profiles of SpCRT gene were determined in the hepatopancreas, chela muscle and gills. The results showed that the expressions of SpCRT mRNA in these tissues were significantly higher for those crabs exposed to low temperatures of 10 and 15°C as compared to those exposed to the higher temperatures, indicating SpCRT was involved in cold adaptation—probably through facilitating protein folding. When low temperature 10°C or 15°C was further combined with high and low salinity stress, the expression of SpCRT mRNA at low salinity (10 ppt) was in most cases significantly higher than that at high salinity (35 ppt), suggesting that under low temperatures, low salinity may represents a more stressful condition to the crab than high salinity. It was also shown that when crabs challenged by 10°C, Ca2+ concentration increased rapidly in the hepatopancreas and an in vitro experiment further showed that the expression of SpCRT mRNA increased concurrently with added Ca2+ concentration; these results together imply that Ca2+ probably plays a major role in low temperature signaling, which induces expression of genes related to cold adaption, such as CRT.

Glucose homeostasis in the euryhaline crab Cytograpsus angulatus: Effects of the salinity in the amylase, maltase and sucrase activities in the hepatopancreas and in the carbohydrate reserves in different tissues.

We studied the existence, biochemical characteristics and response to different environmental salinities of amylase, maltase and sucrase activity in the intertidal euryhaline crab Cyrtograpsus angulatus (Dana, 1852) along with the response to distinct salinities of glycogen and free glucose content in storage organs. Amylase, maltase and sucrase activities were kept over a broad range of pH and temperature and exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Zymography showed the existence of two amylase forms in crabs exposed to 35 (osmoconformation) and low (6-10psu; hyper-regulation) or high (40psu) (hypo-regulation) salinities. Carbohydrases activity in the hepatopancreas and glycemia were not affected in crab exposed to different environmental salinities. In 6 and 40psu, the glycogen content in anterior gills was lower than in 35psu. In 6, 10 and 40psu, glycogen concentration in hepatopancreas, muscle and posterior gills were similar to that in 35psu. Free glucose concentration in chela muscle was higher in 6 and 40psu than in 35psu. The existence and biochemical characteristics of carbohydrases activity and the adjustments in concentration of glycogen in anterior gills and free glucose in chela muscle suggests the ability to perform complete hydrolysis of glycogenic substrates and to keep glucose homeostasis in relation to acclimation to different salinity conditions.

Sub-lethal effects of waterborne exposure to copper nanoparticles compared to copper sulphate on the shore crab (Carcinus maenas)

The toxicity of soluble copper (Cu) to marine organisms is reasonably well described. However, the hazard of Cu engineered nanomaterial (ENMs) is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to compare the toxicity of Cu ENMs to Cu as CuSO4 in the shore crab, Carcinus maenas. The crabs were exposed via the water using a semi-static approach to 0.2 or 1mgL−1 of Cu ENMs or 1mgL−1 of Cu as CuSO4. Gills, hepatopancreas, chela muscle and haemolymph were collected at days 0, 4 and 7 for the body burden of Cu, histology and biochemical analysis [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total glutathione (GSH)]. Nominal exposure concentrations of both the ENMs and the metal salt were maintained at over 80% in each treatment throughout the experiment. By day 7, 54% mortality was recorded in the 1mgL−1 CuSO4 treatment, compared to just 21% in the 1mgL−1 Cu ENM-exposed crabs. The target organs for Cu accumulation were similar for both forms of Cu with highest concentrations in the gills, particularly the posterior gills; followed by the hepatopancreas, and with the lowest concentrations in the chela muscle. No changes were observed in the osmolarity of the haemolymph (ANOVA, P>0.05). TBARS were measured as an indicator of lipid peroxidation and showed the greatest change in the anterior and posterior gills and hepatopancreas of animals exposed to 1mgL−1 Cu ENMs (ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis, P<0.05). No statistically significant changes in total GSH were observed (ANOVA, P>0.05; n=6 crabs per treatment). Histological analysis revealed organ injuries in all treatments. The types of pathologies observed in the Cu ENM treatments were broadly similar to those of the Cu as CuSO4 treatment. Overall, the target organs and Cu accumulation from Cu ENMs were comparable to that following exposure to Cu as CuSO4, and although there were some differences in the sub-lethal effects, the metal salt was more acutely toxic.

Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase from the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain: cDNA cloning and profiles under cold stress.

Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important energy sensor, is crucial for organism survival under adverse conditions. In this study, the roles of this gene under cold stress in a warm-water mud crab, Scylla paramamosain was investigated. The full-length cDNA (SpAMPK) was 1884 bp and its open reading frame of 1566 bp was isolated and characterized. The expressions of SpAMPK detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in various tissues revealed that the highest expression was in the hepatopancreas. The profiles of SpAMPK gene in the hepatopancreas, chela muscle and gill were detected when the subadult crabs were exposed to the four temperature conditions of 10, 15, 20 and 25°C. The results showed that the expression patterns of SpAMPK mRNA in the three tissues were significantly higher when crabs were exposed to 15°C than the other three temperature treatments, while at 10°C treatment, the SpAMPK mRNA was lowest among the four temperature treatments. These findings suggested that the high expression of SpAMPK mRNA might initiate ATP-producing pathways to generate energy to cope with cold stress at 15°C treatment, which was slightly below the range of optimum temperatures; while treatment at 10°C, far lower than optima, the low expression of SpAMPK mRNA could reduce the energy expenditure and thus induce the crabs into cold anesthesia. The results of SpAMPK in this study might contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of acclimation to cold hardiness in S. paramamosain.

Between-habitat comparison of digestive enzymes activities and energy reserves in the SW Atlantic euryhaline burrowing crab Neohelice granulata

The digestive and metabolic characteristics at the biochemical level underlying between-habitat dietary shift of the SW Atlantic euryhaline burrowing crab Neohelice granulata under natural conditions are unknown. We made studies on adult males of N. granulata from the open mudflat and the vegetated saltmarsh in a SW Atlantic costal lagoon (Mar Chiquita, 37°32′–37°45′S; 57°19′–57°26′W, Argentina). We determined and compared amylase, maltase, sucrase, proteolytic, lipase and alkaline phosphatases activities in the hepatopancreas; glycemia, and glycogen, free glucose, triglycerides and protein concentrations in hepatopancreas, chela muscle, and anterior and posterior gills. The results show that N. granulata exhibits characteristics and between-habitat differences at the biochemical level (i.e. high amylase and disaccharidase activities, differences in total proteolytic, lipase and levamisole-insensitive AP activities in the hepatopancreas, and in the concentrations of glycogen in the gills, triglycerides in the hepatopancreas and of protein in the chela muscle) which could represent adaptive digestive and metabolic strategies to face the differences in environmental conditions (i.e. food availability). The possible relationship between digestive and metabolic characteristics and feeding patterns, type of food available and environmental conditions in each habitat is discussed.

Na + ATPase activities in chela muscle of the euryhaline crab Neohelice granulata: Differential response to environmental salinity

The occurrence and characteristics of ouabain-insensitive Na + ATPase activity and the response to environmental salinity of the coexistent Na +–K + ATPase and ouabain-insensitive Na + ATPase activities were studied in chela muscle of the euryhaline crab Neohelice ( Chasmagnathus) granulata from Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Chela muscle exhibited two ouabain-insensitive Na + ATPase activities (a furosemide-insensitive and a furosemide-sensitive activity). I 50 for ouabain-insensitive, furosemide-sensitive Na + ATPase activity was about 1.4 mM. Both ouabain-insensitive, furosemide-insensitive and furosemide-sensitive Na + ATPase activities were weakly affected by pH and showed Michaelis–Menten kinetics ( K m = 0.021 and 0.224 mM, respectively). These characteristics appeared to be quite different from those previously described for Na +–K + ATPase activity in chela muscle of this crab. Na +–K + ATPase and ouabain-insensitive, furosemide-sensitive Na + ATPase activities appeared to be sensitive to environmental salinity. In crabs acclimated to low salinity (10‰), a salinity at which N. granulata exhibits a strong hyperregulatory capacity, Na +–K + ATPase activity was higher (117 ± 26 nmol Pi min − 1 mg prot − 1 ) than in 35‰ salinity (23 ± 6 nmol Pi min − 1 mg prot − 1 ) (a salinity at which this crab is osmoionoconforming). On the contrary, ouabain-insensitive, furosemide-sensitive Na + ATPase activity was higher in 35‰ salinity (108 ±15 nmol Pi min − 1 mg prot − 1 ) than in crabs acclimated to 10‰ salinity (36 ± 11 nmol Pi min − 1 mg prot − 1 ). Ouabain-insensitive, furosemide-insensitive Na + ATPase activity was not affected by acclimation of crabs to low salinity. The response to low salinity suggests that Na +–K + ATPase could be a component of muscle regulatory mechanisms at the biochemical level secondary to hyperregulation whereas ouabain-insensitive, furosemide-sensitive activity appeared to be predominant upon osmoconforming conditions. The possible differential functional roles of Na +–K + ATPase and ouabain-insensitive Na + ATPase activities in muscle are discussed.

Partial characterization and response under hyperregulating conditions of Na&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;-K&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; ATPase and levamisole-sensitive alkaline phosphatase activities in chela muscle of the euryhaline crab &lt;i&gt;Cyrtograpsus angulatus&lt;/i&gt;

The occurrence, characteristics and response to changes in environmental salinity of Na+-K+ ATPase and levamisole-sensitive alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities were studied in chela muscle of the euryhaline crab Cyrtograpsus angulatus. Chela muscle exhibited an Na+-K+ ATPase activity which was strongly dependent on ATP concentration, pH and temperature of the reaction mixture. Maximal activity was found at 1 mM ATP, 30-37°C and pH 7.4. Levamisole-sensitive AP activity was characterised at physiological pH 7.4 and at pH 8.0. I50 for levamisole-sensitive AP activity was 8.8 mM and 8.0 mM at pH 7.4 and 8.0, respectively. At both pH levels, levamisole-sensitive AP activity exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Km=3.451 mM and 6.906 mM at pH 7.4 and 8.0, respectively). Levamisole-sensitive AP activities were strongly affected by temperature, exhibiting a peak at 37oC. In crabs acclimated to low salinity (10; hyperegulating conditions), Na+-K+ ATPase activity and levamisole-sensitive AP activity at the physiological pH were higher than in 35 psu (osmoconforming conditions). The response to low salinity suggests that both activities could be components of muscle regulatory mechanisms at the biochemical level secondary to hyperegulation of C. angulatus. The study of these activities under hyperegulating conditions contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of biochemical mechanisms underlying the adaptive process of euryhaline crabs.

Dishonest Signals of Strength in Male Slender Crayfish (Cherax dispar) during Agonistic Encounters

Many animals resolve disputes without combat by displaying signals of potential strength during threatening displays. Presumably, competitors use each other's displays to assess their relative strengths, and current theory predicts that these signals of strength should generally be honest. We tested this prediction by investigating the relationships among morphology, performance, and social dominance in males of the slender crayfish Cherax dispar. Crayfish routinely use their enlarged front claws (chelae) for both intimidation and fighting, making this species ideal for studying the honesty of weapon size. We evaluated five competing models relating morphological and physiological traits to dominance during paired competitive bouts. Based on the best model, larger chelae clearly resulted in greater dominance; however, chela strength had no bearing on dominance. Thus, displays of chela size were dishonest signals of strength, and the enlarged chelae of males seemingly function more for intimidation than for fighting. In addition, an analysis of the performance of isolated chela muscle showed that muscle from male crayfish produced only half the force that muscle from female crayfish produced (236.6+/-26.4 vs. 459.5+/-71.6 kN m(-2)), suggesting that males invest more in developing larger chelae than they do in producing high-quality chela muscle. From our studies of crayfish, we believe dishonest signaling could play a greater role in territorial disputes than previously imagined.

Alkaline phosphatase activities in muscle of the euryhaline crab Chasmagnathus granulatus: Response to environmental salinity

The occurrence, characteristics and response to environmental salinity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity were studied in chela muscle of the euryhaline crab Chasmagnathus granulatus from Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Chela muscle exhibited a levamisole-insensitive and a levamisole-sensitive AP activities with distinct characteristics. Levamisole-insensitive activity appeared to be maximal at pH 7.7, whereas levamisole-sensitive AP activity was similar with the range of pH 7.4 to 8.0. Both activities at pH 7.7 exhibited a Michaelis–Menten kinetics ( K m = 0.789 and 1.416 mM, respectively). I 50 for levamisole-sensitive AP activity was about 12 mM. Levamisole-insensitive and levamisole-sensitive AP activities were differentially affected by temperature. Levamisole-sensitive AP activity was quite sensitive to temperature, exhibiting a peak at 37 °C but being low at 5 to 30 °C and 45 to 60 °C. Both activities were inhibited by Cu 2+. At 1.0 mM Cu 2+, levamisole-insensitive AP activity was inhibited about 82% whereas levamisole-sensitive AP activity was almost completely inhibited. Levamisole-insensitive AP activity appeared to be sensitive to environmental salinity. In crabs acclimated to low salinity (10‰) this activity was lower than in 35‰ salinity. The response to environmental salinity suggests that levamisole-insensitive AP activity could be a component of muscle regulatory mechanisms at the biochemical level secondary to hyperregulation of C. granulatus. The possible physiological roles and functional relationship of AP activity with Na +/K + ATPase in muscle are discussed.

Alkaline phosphatase activity sensitive to environmental salinity and dopamine in muscle of the euryhaline crab Cyrtograpsus angulatus

The occurrence, characteristics and response to environmental salinity and dopamine of alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity were studied in chela muscle of the euryhaline crab Cyrtograpsus angulatus from Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Chela muscle exhibited a high AP activity with a Michaelis–Menten kinetic ( K m=1.21 mM). AP activity was strongly inhibited by EDTA ( I 50=2.26 mM). AP activity appeared to be sensitive to environmental salinity. In crabs acclimated to low salinity (10‰) AP activity was lower than in 35‰ salinity. Upon an abrupt change to reduced salinity a short-term decrease of AP activity occurred, concomitant with the transition to hyperregulation. Furthermore, AP activity appeared to be under hormonal control since it was inhibited “in vivo” by 10 −4 M dopamine. The response to both environmental salinity and dopamine suggests that AP activity could be a component of muscle regulatory mechanisms at the biochemical level secondary to hyperregulation of C. angulatus. The possible functional relationship of AP activity with Na +/K + ATPase in muscle is discussed.

Enterobacterial attachment and effacement genotype among prospectively acquired putative enteropathogenic [formula omitted] serogroups

The digestive and metabolic characteristics at the biochemical level underlying between-habitat dietary shift of the SW Atlantic euryhaline burrowing crab Neohelice granulata under natural conditions are unknown. We made studies on adult males of N. granulata from the open mudflat and the vegetated saltmarsh in a SW Atlantic costal lagoon (Mar Chiquita, 37°32′–37°45′S; 57°19′–57°26′W, Argentina). We determined and compared amylase, maltase, sucrase, proteolytic, lipase and alkaline phosphatases activities in the hepatopancreas; glycemia, and glycogen, free glucose, triglycerides and protein concentrations in hepatopancreas, chela muscle, and anterior and posterior gills. The results show that N. granulata exhibits characteristics and between-habitat differences at the biochemical level (i.e. high amylase and disaccharidase activities, differences in total proteolytic, lipase and levamisole-insensitive AP activities in the hepatopancreas, and in the concentrations of glycogen in the gills, triglycerides in the hepatopancreas and of protein in the chela muscle) which could represent adaptive digestive and metabolic strategies to face the differences in environmental conditions (i.e. food availability). The possible relationship between digestive and metabolic characteristics and feeding patterns, type of food available and environmental conditions in each habitat is discussed.

Mechanisms of copper toxicity in the shore crab, Carcinus maenas

The influence of copper(II)chloride on selected key enzymes and metabolites in intermediary metabolism and the energy charge potential of the hyperregulating shore crab, Carcinus maenas (L.) were investigated. Crabs, collected in Odense Fjord, Denmark between September 1989 and May 1990, were exposed to 10 ppm copper(II)chloride, in 10 ppt salinity seawater at 15°C for up to 1 wk. Hexokinase activity was 77% lower in the posterior gills and 60% lower in the midgut gland than in control crabs. Phosphofructokinase activity was reduced in the midgut gland by 82% but was unaffected in the gills. Pyruvate kinase activity was undetectable in the gills of exposed crabs and reduced by 47% in the midgut gland. Citrate synthase activity was depressed by 30% in the posterior gills and unaffected in other tissues. Copper exposure had no apparent effect on tissue cytochrome c oxidase activity. Chela muscle was the only tissue in which copper exposure did not bring about reductions in the enzyme activities tested. As a result of 1 wk of copper exposure the average lactate level increased by 3.5-fold in haemolymph, 9.3-fold in posterior gills and 6.5-fold in midgut gland. The average glucose level was raised by a factor of 6 in the haemolymph, 3.4 in the posterior gills and 1.2 in the midgut gland. Energy charge potential was at a very high level (ca. 0.9) and was unaffected by copper exposure.

Changes in GDH activity in the chela muscle of Cancer pagurus during the annual cycle. Effect of the moult stage

1. 1. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity was measured in the chela muscle of wild Cancer pagurus throughout an annual cycle. The effect of the crab's size/weight and moult stage on GDH activity was also examined. 2. 2. GDH activity in the glutamate formation reaction (A1) was inversely correlated to the crab's size/weight and was influenced by the moult cycle, especially in early postmoult when a 3-fold activity increase was observed. Therefore, the two activity levels, 80 mIU/mg prot and 110 mIU observed in summer and autumn/winter, respectively, resulted mainly from these factors. No clear seasonal variations were noticed. 3. 3. GDH activity in the ammonia formation reaction (A2) was not related to the crab's size/weight and not significantly influenced by the moult cycle. A relatively constant activity level fluctuating around 30 m IU/mg prot was observed throughout the year. 4. 4. The mean value of the activity ratio (A1:A2) was around 2.7:1 throughout the year, but the ratio presented a high variability between individual crabs of the same batch and between monthly batches of crabs. Changes in A1:A2 ratio always resulted from changes in A1 activity. 5. 5. GDH activities were higher in the propodus than in the carpus-merus, especially the A1 activity. 6. 6. Although the activity of GDH in muscle was generally higher in the glutamate formation reaction, it is suggested that the primary role of GDH was devoted to the reverse reaction.

Morphology and muscle stress of chelae of temperate and tropical stone crabs Menippe mercenaria

Chela morphology and muscle stress were compared between temperate and tropical populations of stone crabs Menippe mercenuriu (Say) to test whether environmental differences might result in greater crushing strength in the tropics. Such differences include increased crab diversity in the tropics (which might lead to greater fighting among congeners), increased prey exoskeleton calcification in the tropics, and year round chela use in the tropics as opposed to seasonal chela use in the temperate population.No latitudinal differences were found in any aspect of chela morphology, including relative chela size, mechanical advantage, apodeme surface area, and angle of muscle fibre pinnation. Summer measurements of crusher chela muscle stress were also similar between the two populations.The maximum muscle stress determined for M. mercenariu was 220 N ∼r n ‐∼, much higher than stress levels previously reported for crustaceans. Other researchers have typically measured forces either from autotomized chelae or by measuring forces required to open a closed chelae. I have determined muscle stress using a force transducer that measures active gripping strength in live crabs.

Accumulation of cadmium and selenium and their mutual interaction in the shore crab Carcinus maenas (L.)

The accumulation of cadmium and selenium and their mutual interaction was measured in hepatopancreas, gills, chela muscle, and carapace in six groups of shore crabs Carcinus maenas (L.), exposed to combinations of cadmium and selenite concentrations in the sea water. The highest concentrations of cadmium occurred in gills and hepatopancreas; muscle and carapace accumulated cadmium to lower levels. The cadmium concentrations in hepatopancreas varied inversely with the cadmium concentrations in muscle and carapace. The cadmium concentrations in muscle and carapace varied in parallel. The presence of selenite in the sea water augmented the concentrations of cadmium in the gills. When selenite was added to the sea water the selenium level rose in gills and carapace, while no increase was observed in hepatopancreas and muscle. The presence of cadmium in the sea water augmented the accumulation of selenium in the gills. In the presence of cadmium in the sea water selenium wa; accumulated in gills and carapace in proportion to the ambient selenite concentration. Exposing crabs 10 selenile and cadmium resulted in a positive correlation between the concentration of these elements in the gills and hepatopancreas. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between the selenium and cadmium concentrations in carapace within each experimental group. The data are discassed as regards mode of uptake, internal translocations, accumulation, me'abolism, and excretion of the elements investigated.

The uptake and interorgan distribution of mercury in a carnivorous crab.

Carnivorous portunid crabs (Thalamita Crenata) were fed 203-Hg labelled polychaetes (Neanthes Succinea) for 13 days. Interorgan distribution of the 203-Hg label in experimental crabs was compared to total Hg uptake and interorgan distributions observed in crabs from nature. Laboratory studies indicate Hg accumulation into viscera exceeded accumulation into body muscle by 7.5 times. Uptake by viscera exceeded uptake by Chela Muscle by 20.9 times. Uptake by body muscle was 2.7 times that of Chela Muscle. In contrast to laboratory studies total Hg concentrations in the body muscle of crabs from the estuary were always higher than concentrations in viscera. Increasing Hg levels in the food between November and February may contribute to increased tissue concentrations of the metal in the predator. However, the more rapid rate of increase in the crab body muscle than in viscera suggests solute Hg may be the more important source of metal over this period. There appears to be a lag in translocation of Hg from the environmental interface of the animal to the Chela Muscle. If a similar lag occurs in metal translocation to slowly exchanging tissues in other animals, short term laboratory experiments may underestimate the potential for contamination of such tissues.