Polyamines, indolamines, and catecholamines in gills and haemolymph of the euryhaline crab, Eriocheir sinensis. Effects of high pressure and salinity

Tyrosine, octopamine, tryptophan, serotonin, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine were measured by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in gills (anterior and posterior) and haemolymph extracts of the freshwater Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. These results may be considered as basic data to be used as control physiological doses, to which to refer for injection or for in vitro perfusion experiments. No significant difference has been detected between anterior respiratory and posterior salt-transporting gills. After 10 days acclimation to sea water, a significant increase of haemolymph norepinephrine and dopamine has been observed. Exposure to hydrostatic pressure (101 ATA for 5 hours) also results in an octopamine increase in the haemolymph. In addition, there is a tryptophan increase in both the anterior and the posterior gills. Results are discussed in terms of possible correlations of the concentrations of polyamines, indoleamines, and catecholamines with osmoregulation and behaviour.