Meeting Abstract

P1.109  Friday, Jan. 4  Affects of eyestalk ablation on hemolymph protein levels in the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii HOULTON, C.*; KNOLL, J.; GLADKOWSKI, L.; RICH, D.; HOLFORD, K.; Purdue University North Central; Purdue University North Central; Purdue University North Central; Purdue University North Central; Purdue University North Central choulton@pnc.edu

Eyestalk ablation (ESX) of crustaceans has been shown to induce molting, vitellogenesis, and sexual maturation. Unfortunately, there is little information available concerning the effects of full (bilateral) or partial (unilateral) ablation on total hemolymph protein concentrations in freshwater crustaceans. In order to examine the general effects caused by ESX on total protein levels, a series of experiments were conducted on the crayfish Procambarus clarkii. For this study, only male crayfish were used to avoid fluxes in protein concentration caused by vitellogenesis alone. Crayfish were divided into three groups which were bilaterally ablated, unilaterally ablated, or left intact (control). Hemolymph samples were drawn multiple times over a two week period and the Bradford method was utilized to determine total hemolymph protein concentration. Protein levels peaked at day 7 (13.1 ±3.8 mg/ml) and then again at day 18 (15.0 ±1.1 mg/ml) in all groups, with the highest levels observed in control animals. Protein levels gradually decreased following each peak period suggesting a cyclical pattern in mobilization. Multiple experiments were conducted to investigate this observation (e.g. temperature modification, staggered bleeding, food supplementation), but the putative cause remains elusive.