Cadmium chloride induced hyperglycemia in the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii: Possible role of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone

Abstract Exposure to 5 ppm cadmium chloride for up to 72-hr produces hyperglycemia in intact Procambarus clarkii , but not in eyestalkless individuals. Extracts of eyestalks, regardless of whether the eyestalks are from cadmium exposed crayfish or crayfish kept in clean water, produce a greater hyperglycemia in eyestalkless crayfish kept in clean water than in cadmium exposed eyestalkless crayfish. This difference in effectiveness of the extracts may represent a decreased responsiveness of cadmium exposed crayfish to the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone. These results support the hypothesis that cadmium induced hyperglycemia is mediated at least in part by the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone that is produced in the eyestalk.