Physiological aspects of molting in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus

Synopsis. From a respiratory and metabolic standpoint, a blue crab is in an extremely precarious condition during a molt. A molt is physiolog? ically possible for two major reasons. First, a premolt alkalosis anticipates the acidosis that arises during actual exuviation when the gas exchanger and ventilatory appendage are impaired and thus anaerobic metabolism must be activated. Second, the crab is able to revert to more primitive forms of skeletal support and, immediately after exuviation, gas exchange. These mechanisms are very fragile, however, as are the cardiovascular mechanisms that provide the force for exuviation; any one may fail. Changes in various enzyme activities and in free amino acid content of the tissues, which are usually associated with osmotic challenges, are associated specifically with a molt as well. I suggest that they are related to isosmotic water uptake and cell volume regulation.

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