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Metabolic responses of the burrowing mud shrimp, Callianassa californiensis, to anoxic conditions

Callianassa californiensis (Dana), a burrowing crustacean
inhabitant of estuarine mudflats along the Pacific coast, is subjected
to severely hypoxic interstitial water twice each tidal
cycle.
A preliminary approach was made to understanding the metabolic
mechanisms employed by Callianassa during periods of anoxic stress.
Percent glycogen in the hepatopancreas and chela muscle, blood lactic
acid, and blood glucose were determined for animals subjected to
periods of anoxia. Blood lactate and glucose analyses were performed
on animals at various intervals during a post-anoxia recovery
period.
Callianassa was found to accumulate the anaerobic end product,
lactic acid, at a steady rate during anoxia. The blood glucose concentration
was shown to increase with initiation of anoxia until about
12 to 14 hours when it tended to reach an equilibrium. Glycogen
utilization did not appear to be important during short periods of
anoxic stress, but for periods longer than 12 to 14 hours, glycogenolysis
became important in maintaining glucose substrate for
glycolysis. During the post-anoxia recovery period, the accumulated
blood lactate was oxidized and blood glucose was reduced to the normal
concentration. The possibility of the existence and role of free
blood oligosaccharides as a source of glucose during anoxia was
discussed. / Graduation date: 1971

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/32110
Date04 August 1970
CreatorsHawkins, Dan Lee
ContributorsPritchard, Austin W.
Source SetsOregon State University
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis/Dissertation

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