NEUROHORMONES AND CONTROL OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN CRUSTACEA

SUMMARY The sinus gland of crustaceans is a neuro-endocrine organ which controls various physiological processes, such as change in body colour, eye adaptation to light, homeostasis of blood sugar, sexual development and moulting. Some of the crustacean neurohormones have been isolated and purified. For example, hormones of colour change: red pigment concentrating hormone and white pigment concentrating hormone which adapts the animal to light backgrounds by stimulating concentration of the pigment of chromatophores, black pigment dispersing hormone which causes a dispersion of the pigment of chromatophores and eye adaptation to light. Two inhibiting factors which inhibit mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, crustacean eyestalk uncoupling factor which stimulates mitochrondrial respiration and transport of K + into mitochondria. Other neurohormones are: hyperglycemic hormone, moult inhibiting hormone, gonad inhibiting hormone, hormones affecting hydromineral regulation and cardio-excitor hormone.