BIOLOGIYA MORYA, 2010, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 207-214 |
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Stress-induced changes in the nitric oxide system of shore crabs living under different ecological conditions A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041 E-mail: The system of NO synthesis in the brain and hemolymph of shore crabs Hemigrapsus sanguineus (Decapoda: Varunidae) living under different environmental conditions was examined in norm and under acute stress. Intact crabs sampled in an area with high anthropogenic load had a higher level of NO, compared to crabs from a relatively safe environment. After acute damaging exposure, the dynamics of NO system activity in crabs from different stations differed markedly. The number of NO-positive elements in the brain and the level of NO metabolites in the hemolymph dramatically increased immediately after injuries in all groups of crabs. One hour after exposure, the expression of inducible NO-synthase in the protocerebrum neurons was observed in crabs inhabiting chronically polluted areas. These results demonstrate for the first time the influence of pollution on the activity of NO-ergic processes and the involvement of nitric oxide in the formation of behavioral defense reaction in crustaceans under acute stress. Key words: stress, nitric oxide, NO-synthase, brain, crabs, pollution. |
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