CHANG, E.S.: Hormones in the lives of crustaceans: An overview

Decapod crustaceans have been a particularly interesting and rewarding group of animals for the study of comparative endocrinology. Most of the published studies, however, have dealt with the hormones of the adult stage; relatively few studies have addressed the hormones of the embryonic and larval stages. The most widely studied hormones during crustacean ontogeny are the arthropod molting hormones–the ecdysteroids. Following a brief survey of crustacean endocrinology, I will present a selected review of what is known about ecdysteroids in the various crustacean life stages. The ecdysteroids are multifunctional and are involved in a number of life processes (growth, regeneration, and reproduction). I will also discuss aspects of the terpenoid hormone methyl farnesoate and the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone neuropeptide family during ontogeny.