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Morphological differences associated with sex or stage, together with total lipids and carotenoids, were studied in Euphausia superba as possible indicators of physiological condition. E. superba displays sexual dimorphism during growth. A group of mature males, called Males II herein, has a greater abdominal length, suggesting that they are faster swimmers, a feature implying higher metabolic rates and a higher demand for protecting pigments like carotenoids. Mature Males II have proportionally lower lipids but higher total lipid-soluble carotenoids, a counterintuitive finding. Males II also have bigger eyes. Significant regressions with carotenoids were found for wet weight, abdominal length, and eye diameter. On a spatial analysis, population composition reflects reproductive activity. Males II would be in search of females for fecundation and, thus, are dominant in some areas. The PCA analysis of 10 allometric and biochemical variables show a distinct Males II group differing in morphology, carotenoids, and lipid contents. The carotenoid:lipid ratio was highest for Males II, supporting the hypothesis of the role of carotenoids in the activity of the species. Mature males may experience physiological stress during reproduction and probably die shortly afterwards. A relationship between activity, morphometrics, and carotenoid content seems evident, deserving further investigation.

The objective of the present study was to characterize the relationship between vitellogenin (Vtg) and vitellin (Vt) concentration profiles during the reproductive cycle of the penaeid prawn Fenneropenaeus indicus. Vt was purified from ovaries of vitellogenic females by gradient ultracentrifugation. Purified Vt was used to raise polyclonal antibodies (anti-Vt) for this species. Vtg and Vt concentrations in hemolymph, hepatopancreas, and ovaries were measured by validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Parallel displacement curves were obtained between purified Vt and tissues from ovaries, hepatopancreas, and hemolymph. Vtg concentrations increased in the hemolymph and hepatopancreas in the early stages of ovarian development (until GSI 3.4) and decreased significantly (P

Purpose: To determine the effect of low-dose splenic irradiation on severe Zidovudine-resistant, HIV-1–associated thrombocytopenia (HAT). Methods and Materials: Between September 1994 and October 1996, 17 patients were included in a prospective study. The patients met the following criteria for inclusion: hemorrhagic symptoms or a platelet count below or equal to 50 × 10 9 /l and normal numbers of megakaryocytes on bone aspiration. The mean baseline platelet count was 20.3 (± 14.4) × 10 9 /l; four patients had a platelet count inferior to 10 × 10 9 /l. Splenic volume was defined by ultrasonography. A total dose of 9 Gy was given using an isocentric parallel pair field technique. Results: One month after the end of treatment six patients had a significant rise in their platelet count. Clinically, hemorrhagic symptoms stopped for all patients that were symptomatic. Unfortunately, duration of response was short because for one patient only the platelet count remains stable with a follow-up of 6 months. All patients are alive and in recent evaluation, with four out of eight patients receiving a combination of antiretroviral therapy had a platelet count above 50 × 10 9 /l. Conclusion: Our results are disappointing concerning the duration of response, especially comparatively to those reported in autoimmune thrombocytopenia. Mechanisms of HAT are more complex, and megakaryocytes' infection may play an important role. Splenic irradiation should be considered as palliative treatment for the minority of patients with severe bleeding that does not respond to standard medical treatment.

In crustaceans, assimilation of nutrients depends on their complex digestive systems. Early studies were limited to morphology and histology. More recently, biochemistry and molecular biology studies have generated interesting results about the processes of digestion and food utilization. Selection of foods in nature; consumption in aquaculture; ingestion; transit of nutrients in the digestive tract; mechanical digestion; enzyme activity and their physiological variations and control of their synthesis, use of compound diets, cellular absorption and storage as well as transfer of excreta are the main functions of the digestive tract of crustaceans. Numerous studies have addressed these subjects in relation to several crustacean species living in European waters, including Homarus, crayfish Astacus, shrimps Crangon, Palaemonetes and Paiaemon, crabs Cancer and Portunus, as well as other genera, such as Penaeus and Macrobrachium living in overseas territories. This article reviews the results of these studie...

The oxygen consumption of the six successive zoeal stages of Palaemon serratus reared in 30 different combinations of temperature and salinity was measured. Oxygen consumption per individual, R, increased with the age (or the dry weight, W) of the larvae according to a power function R=a·Wb, but no significant relationship was found between the specific respiration, R′ (respiration rate per dry weight unit), and the dry weight of successive larval stages. Nevertheless, highest rates were always observed in the ZIV, for all temperature and salinity conditions. These maxima were probably related to large nutritional changes occurring at this period of development. Temperature affected R′ according to a linear function R′ = a′ + b′·T.Q10 values varied between 1.50 and 2.58 according to the larval stage and the salinity, except for the ZI at the lowest salinity where a very high value of 5.89 was recorded. The respiration rate decreased at the lowest and highest salinity values. The salinity effect on metabolic rates is described by a quadratic equation R′ = a″+b″·S+c·S2. The combined effect of temperature and salinity on the respiration of the six successive larval stages is illustrated using tridimensional models. Maximal respiration rates were recorded at salinities between 25‰ and 31‰ and at the highest temperature (29°C).

Day and night variations (nycthemeral) of ammonia excretion were studied in post-larvae and adults (male and female) of Penaeus japonicus . When the photoperiod was 16:8 ( L D ), ammonia excretion by adults varied only at night, with two maxima: 21.00–23.00 h and 01.00–03.00 h. Ammonia excretion by the post-larvae exhibited variations during the whole day, with four maxima: 21.00–23.00 h, 01.00–03.00 h, 07.00–09.00 h and 13.00–15.00 h. In adults, hourly specific excretion was enhanced during the dark period (× 2). There was no such difference for post-larvae between day and night. The daily specific excretion did not differ between males and females except for some periods of the daily cycle. The daily specific excretion by post-larvae (47.8 μatg NNH 3 NH 4 ·g −1 live weight·24 h −1 ) was about five-fold higher than excretion by adults (10.3 μatg NNH 3 NH 4 ·g −1 live weight·24 h −1 at 23°C). The relationships between behaviour and ammonia excretion variations are discussed.

Variations of free amino-acids (FAA) content during the larval development of Penaeus japonicus have been studied.FAA content increases from 83 to 687 μmoles/g dry weight from egg to post-larval (20 days old: P20) development. There is a sharp increase between zoe and mysis stages, and another one between one day post-larvae (P1) and P20. After the mysis stage, free essential and non essential amino-acids evolve in a different way: the non essential FAA content, mainly glycine, increases continuously, whereas essential FAA content decreases (about 40%) from the mysis stage to metamorphosis in post-larvae (P1).FAA content evolution during larval development exhibits the same trend as the variation of the digestive enzyme activity.ResumeLes variations des concentrations des acides amines libres (AAL) ont ete etudiees au cours du developpement larvaire de Penaeus japonicus.La concentration totale des AAL de l'aeuf a la post-larve de 20 jours (P20) augmente de 83 a 687 μmoles/g de poids sec. Cette augm...

1. 1. This study deals with the modifications of the hemolymph proteins of the Crustacea, Isopoda Idotea balthica basteri when this isopod is exposed to the effect of a non-ionic detergent (long-term effect: > 3 months). 2. 2. Three concentrations were used: 1, 5 and 30 mg/l, and the effect of the temperature was considered 3. 3. The electrophoretograms indicate that in the second month there were numerous fractions produced. In the third month there was an important and general reduction in proteins. 4. 4. The hemocyanin fractions were affected by the detergent. The detergent may stop or stimulate the synthesis of fraction B and influence the process of coupling-separation of fractions A and C. 5. 5. In females, detergent may cause resorption of oocyte proteins.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and the efficacy of high-dose chemoradiotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell support with peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) harvested after high-dose cyclophosphamide (HDCYC) treatment in patients with high-risk multiple myeloma (MM). Inclusion criteria were: age less than 65 years and high-risk MM defined as stage II MM, stage III MM, refractory or relapsed MM. The design of the study was: 1) HDCYC +/- hematopoietic growth factors followed by PBPC collection, and 2) high-dose melphalan combined with total body irradiation (or busulfan for previously irradiated patients) followed by PBPC reinfusion (ABPCT). All 60 patients completed the procedure except two who died from infection after HDCYC and another of acute cardiac failure after reinfusion of PBPC. Out of the 60 evaluable patients, three failed to respond while the other 57 achieved either a partial (n = 33) or complete (n = 24) response. Thirty-one patients progressed or relapsed after a median duration of response of 15 months (range: 3-43). The median follow-up for the other 26 responder patients was 24 months (range: 2-66). Twenty-one patients died, 18 of MM (2 after failure, 16 after relapse) and three responders of lung cancer (n = 1) and infection (n = 2). In conclusion, this study shows that this therapeutic approach is feasible and efficient.

This study deals with the variation in the lipids of tissues during the molting cycle of prawn, Penaeus japonicus. During the molting cycle, the most notable variation in the lipid concentration (mg/100g fresh tissue) was seen in the hepatopancreas; the lipid concentration reached a maximum at stage D0 (beginning of premolt period). Also, the pre-ecdysial increase of hepatopancreatic lipids was found to be derived from both polar and neutral lipids. In other tissues such as the muscle, eyestalk, integument, and remains, the lipid concentration varied with the molting stages, but the variation was not as remarkable as observed in the hepatopancreas.

The influence of purified and proteic amino acids in the diet on the carotenoid content of crustaceans was investigated with the shrimp, Palaemon serratus . Methionine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and arginine, combined in pairs and in varying proportions, were added to a standard artificial diet containing 45.7% protein. The addition of 8% methionine resulted in a stronger concentration of carotenoid pigments, while the methionine-isoleucine pair produced the most striking results. A too high addition of free amino acids in the food supply led to a lower concentration of carotenes in the specimens studied; the smaller doses of purified amino acids applied in the experiment produced the best results.

Soluble proteins, esterases 2C, acid phosphatases of the digestive gland and foot muscle of Cyclonassa neritea , were compared using polyacrylamide gradient gels. α-Glucosidases, alkaline phosphatases, l -leucine aminopeptidase and peptidase were studied from digestive gland extracts. Molecular weights of isoenzymes were evaluated with 5000 d accuracy. Variation in activity of the most important isoenzymes of each enzyme under the influence of acclimation temperature was measured. In both muscle and digestive gland, the concentration of soluble proteins is stable. Through the whole acclimation temperature range, esterase activity per mg protein decreased with increased temperature. l -Leucine aminopeptidase activity decreases steadily from 10 to 25°, even though the two alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme activities increase. The other enzymes have their maximum activities at 20°.

Esterase 2 C activities, involving the hydrolysis of 2-carbon carboxylic esters, α-glucosidase, acetylglucosaminidase, alkaline and acid phosphatases in the hepatopancreas of Palaemon serratus, were examined by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. The isoenzymatic equipments of shrimps acclimated at 6 different ligh intensities (1 to 1200 lx) were compared. Enzymatic activities were measured and the molecular weight of each isozyme was evaluated. It was found that (a) the concentration of soluble proteins decreases between 1 and 600 lx; (b) esterase 2 C and alkaline phosphatase activities increase substantially between 1 and 1200 lx; (c) for these two activities, light intensity acts differently according to the isozyme under consideration; (d) α-glucosidase activities vary inversely with acetylglucosaminidase activity at light intensities greater than 150 lux.

The carotenoid pigments of the copepod, Calanipeda aquae-dulcis, were investigated by thin layer chromatography and absorption spectrophotometry. The following pigments were identified: β-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, echinenone, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin and phoenicoxanthin. The nature of the fatty acids derived from natural esters has been determined quantitatively by gas chromatography of their methyl esters. Complexes between fatty acids and carotenoid pigments are discussed; not only esterified pigments are present. The linkage between fatty acids and carotenoid pigments depends on the extent of oxygenation of the pigments. The presence of monounsaturated fatty acids increases if carotenoid pigments are low in oxygenation. Conversely, the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids increases with the oyxgenation of the carotenoid pigments. The role of the links between carotenoid pigments and fatty acids in the trophic webs is discussed.

Variations in ascorbic acid content of the ovary, somatic tissues and the whole female body were studied during ovarian development and the molting cycle of Palaemon serratus. The conclusions are incomplete, due to insufficient data on the role of ascorbic acid in the physiology and metabolism of animals, and especially crustaceans. However, some results indicate that Vitamin C is accumulated in the female as the gonad index increases. Ascorbic acid is concentrated preferentially in the ovarian tissue. Some hypotheses are put forward relating to the role of ascorbic acid in the biosynthesis of chitin, steroid hormones, and in ovarian maturation.

The non-essential free amino acids of Peneaus japonicus hemolymph (asp, ser, glu, pro, gly, tyr, arg, ala, cys, tau) are more common than the essential ones: 750 pmol μl −1 of hemolymph vs 330 pmol. Under a light-dark (L-D); 12-12 photoperiod, tricircadian variations of males or tetracircadian variations of females are more pronounced for non-essential amino acids then for essential ones. In the first case, free amino acid concentrations of hemolymph can be multiplied by a factor of three, and in the second case by a factor of six; but circadian variations of females are greater than those of males. Differences between the maximum and minimum of essential free amino acid concentrations of male and female hemolymph are more frequent than for non-essential amino acids. A differences of 2 h between the minimum of essential and non-essential amino acid concentrations in males only appeared during the afternoon. The more concentrated free amino acids in P. japnicus hemolymph are glycine, proline, histidine, and alanine; the less concentrated are lysine, cysteine and glutamic acid while others, like leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and tyrosine can only be estimated at 10.00 and 24.00 h.

The effects of a fat-free diet and compounded diets containing tripalmitin, soybean, linseed, sardine and clam oils on moult, growth and fatty acid composition of prawn were investigated. Compounded diets containing fatty acids of the linolenic family such as 18 : 3 ω 3, 20 : 5 ω 3 and 22 : 6 ω 3 resulted in good moult and growth. Determination of the fatty acid composition of total lipids from prawns fed the test diets showed: 1. (1) Prawns given fat-free diets had the highest levels of 16 : 0, 16 : 1 and 18 : 1, indicating that they were able to synthesize those acids de novo. 2. (2) Addition of soybean oil rich in linoleic acid significantly increased the level of 18 : 2 ω 6. 3. (3) Feeding of linseed oil, high in linolenic acid, gave better moulting rate and growth than (2), and resulted mainly in high levels of 18 : 3 ω 3. 4. (4) Prawns receiving tripalmitin had a high level of 16 : 1 ω 7, indicating that regulation of palmitic acid synthesis could be exercised through desaturation and chain elongation. 5. (5) Prawns fed diets supplemented with 4% sardine oil or 4% clam oil, rich in ω 3 PUFA had a high moulting rate, the best growth and a high level of ω 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

1. 1. The bioconversion of desmosterol to cholesterol during the molting cycle of the shrimp, Palaemon serratus, was investigated in conjunction with the variation of lipids, unsaponifiable matter and sterol concentrations. 2. 2. The lipid concentration was high at stages D1′ and D1″ (early premolt). The unsaponifiable matter concentration was high at stages A2, B1 and B2 (postmolt). However, the sterols were contained at an almost constant level in the tissues throughout all the molting stages examined. 3. 3. The ability for conversion of desmosterol to cholesterol rose markedly at stages A2-B1, decreased at stage B2 and then appeared to increase slightly up to stage D1′ and decreased notably at stages D1′-D1″ to the almost constant levels maintained throughout the late premolt (stages D1‴ and D2).

The activities of esterase 2C, esterase 14C, L-leucine aminopeptidase, α-glucosidase, alkaline and acid phosphatases of the stomach, the caeca and the gut of Mugil capito were examined by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Fishes of three sizes were compared: the smallest only showed esterase 2C and phosphatases activities. Zymograms for each size and each organ were examined and the molecular weights of the isozymes evaluated with an accuracy of 10,000 daltons. It was found that (a) the existence of some isozymes is dependent to the size and the organ; (b) some enzymes are found only in some parts of the digestive tract; (c) for any given organ, enzymatic activity differs from one isozyme to another; and (d) the digestive enzymatic activities differ for each organ considered and in different ways dependent on the size of the fish.

Non-essential free amino acids of Cancer pagurus hemolymph are more heavily concentrated than essential ones: 357 vs 144 pmol/μl. The most concentrated non-essential free amino acids are tyrosine, taurine and glycine, while the essential ones which are most concentrated are leucine, lysine, histidine and valine. In most cases, the 12-12 photoperiod imposes a tetracircadian variation, with peaks at 04.00, 08.00 and 12.00 h and to a lesser extent at 22.00 h. Hemolymph protein content displays a tricircadian variation with minimums as low as 25.5 μg/mg and maximums as high as 47.5 μg/mg. Protein content appears to be highest at about 10.00, 20.00 and 02.00 h and lowest at 08.00, 14.00 and 22.00 h.

The electrophoretic behaviour of haemolymph lipoprotein was determined throughout a 24 h light-dark cycle. All of the 14 lipoprotein bands did not always appear at the same time, and their level did not remain constant, showing mainly tri- and tetracircadian variations. Values are not the same in males and females. Despite the fact that the lipoprotein variation was not closely synchronized with circadian periodicity, some lipoproteins were responsible for light-dark transition.

Resume L'influence d'une microsporidie, Thelohania maenadis Perez, 1904 (Protozoa: Microspora) sur les teneurs en acides amines libres de l'hemolymphe et du muscle chez Carcinus mediterraneus Czerniavsky, 1884 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) est etudice. La technique d'analyse des acides amines libres permet de mettre en evidence chez les crabes dont la musculature est detruite a 70–80%, quatre composes supplementaires non identifies dans l'hemolymphe et onze dans le muscle. Le parasitisme n'induit pas de variation importante des acides amines libres totaux de l'hemolymphe et du muscle. On note dans ce dernier une augmentation tres importante en methionine sulfoxyde, en methionine et en serine; la glycine, la proline et l'arginine diminuent alors que l'alanine et taurine augmentent. La diminution des acides amines libres totaux de l'hemolymphe, chez les crabes sains et parasites soumis a dessalure a temperature moyenne, est surtout due a la baisse des concentrations de la proline, la glycine et l'alanine. La sursalure n'entraine qu'une legere diminution de la teneur totale des acides amines libres chez les animaux sains et n'a aucune action chez les parasites. En effet, la nette augmentation de la proline et de l'alanine est compensee par la diminution d'autres acides amines, notamment l'arginine, l'acide glutamique, la glycine, le tryptophane et la taurine chez les crabes sains et l'arginine, le tryptophane, la taurine et la serine chez les parasites. L'influence de la combinaison des facteurs salinite et temperature a ete etudiee dans des conditions comparables a celles regnant l'hiver et l'ete dans l'etang d'ou sont originaires les crabes. Aux temperatures tres basses et tres hautes, l'action de la salinite s'inverse chez les crabes sains: la dessalure entraine une augmentation des acides amines libres. Le parasitisme diminue cet effet des temperatures extremes sur l'influence de la salinite et peut meme l'annuler completement a temperature elevee.

Modifications in the digestive enzymic profile in three parts of the digestive tract (stomach, pyloric caecum and intestine) were studied during the first year of life of the teleost Mugil capito by the semi-quantitative APIZYM method. Higher enzymic activity was found int he pyloric caecum and intestine than in the stomach. Moreover, a decrease in protease activities appears during growth and is apparently due to adaptation to changes in diet.

Variation in Esterase 2 C activities, involving the hydrolysis of 2-carboxylic esters, α-glucosidase acetyl-glucosaminidase and alkaline and acid phosphotases, in the hepatopancreas and the abdominal muscle of Palaemon serratus was examined by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Soluble proteins were measured in the hepatopancreas and the abdominal muscle, and trypsin and chymotrypsin activities in the hepatopancreas. The activities and the isoenzymatic variations in shrimps acclimated at 5 different temperatures (between 14 and 30°) were compared and the molecular weight of each isozyme evaluated. It was found that: (a) the concentrations of soluble proteins decrease in the hepatopancreas between 18 and 30°, but remain unchanged in the abdominal muscle; (b) esterase and phosphatase activities increase with temperature but in a more or less random manner, according to the isozyme under consideration; (c) glycosidase activities increase with temperature; and (d) trypsin activity varies in an inverse relation to chymotrypsin activity.

Resume Deux fractions lipoproteiques voisines, specifiques des femelles en cours de vitellogenese ont ete identifiees par electrophorese en gel de gradient de polyacrylamide chez Penaeus japonicus (Bate). La premiere, la vitellogenine obtenue a partir des proteines de lhemolymphe et la seconde, la lipovitelline extraite du vitellus de l'ovaire, toutes deux presentant un poids moleculaire de l'ordre de 500000. La vitellogenine apparait dans l'hemolymphe des femelles de plus de 25 g, 7 jours environ apres l'epedonculation des animaux et a partir d'un rapport gonado somatique de 1,8. La masse molaire de la lipovitelline native obtenue apres electrophorese est coherente avec celle determinee par ultracentrifugation analytique (510000). Apres action du sodium dodecylsulfate, la lipovitelline des ovaires de P. japonicus, presente en electrophorese cinq fractions principales de masse molaire de 150000, 105000, 92000, 86000 et 76000. La composition en amino-acides de la lipovitelline a ete determinee. La vitellogenine montre une identite antigenique avec la lipovitelline accumulee dans les ovocytes. Par double immunodiffusion radiale, une reaction positive attestant la presence de la vitellogenine a ete mise en evidence dans le tissu sousepidermique situe dans l'hypoderme lateral et dorsal du cephalothorax et de l'abdomen des femelles en cours de vitellogenese.

The amino acids of four species of Microsporidia parasitizing crustaceans were investigated: three species — Thelohania maenadis, Ormieresia carcini and Ameson pulvis — are parasites of Carcinus mediterraneus; Inodosporus sp. is a parasite of Palaemon serratus . Seventeen protein amino acids were identified of which aspartic acid, glutamic acid and lysine were quantitatively the most important, being quantitatively similar in all four parasites. The relative amounts of the next most abundant amino acids were found to vary and might serve as a systematic criterion at the genus level. For example, phenylalanine is predominant in Ormieresia and leucine in Inodosporus : serine in Thelohania and glycine in Ameson are also predominant, but to a lesser extent. The free amino acids composition shows little qualitative variation among the four genera, but quantitative differences are found in the composition of Microsporidia parasitizing the same host species; this may reflect variations in the amino acid metabolism of the parasite. The urea cycle in Ormeresia is most remarkable in this connection. The free amino acid level in the parasites was generally found to be in inverse proportion to the level in the host; the amino acids which are found to exist at high levels in the parasites correspond to essential amino acids of the Crustacea. Metabolic and adaptative relations are discussed.

Physiological and biochemical methods and techniques are used to study biological processes at different levels of organization of living matter. Normal physiological processes of marine organisms caught in natural environment or maintained under constant external conditions have been studied in numerous scientific works. Nutrition, respiration, reproduction and metabolism for instance, are physiological functions more or less extensively known in algae, fishes, molluscs and crustaceans, among other phyla, generally depending on their economical interest. Less studied are the physiological variations characterizing these species under different external conditions, systematically fixed, one by noe, or by groups, or under determinde variations of these environmental factors. Ecophysiology provide considerable information on the ecological characteristics of the studied species in nature, where temperature, photophase, light intensity, salinity, etc…, vary simultaneously in a non-programmed manner. The effects and consequences of each of these factors considered individually must be evaluated and measured in order to ascertain the importance of each one in nature and for each physiological function. The scientific information obtained in these studiesins easily made use of in aquaculture, especially with intensive techniques. The normal biochemical characteristics of marine organisms caught in natural environment or maintained under constant external conditions have sometimes been of interest for laboratories specialized in pure or physiological biochemistry. Some descriptive works in structural biochemistry, concerning the detailed composition of marine organisms, are available. The former vary in number and importance, depending on the different phyla. Enzymes characteristic of each physiological function, i. e. digestive enzymes in the nutritional function, and enzymes of intermediary metabolism for instance are much less known than in mammals, and sometimes not known at all in certain enire zoological groups. Biochemical variation of these species under systematically fixed or expermentally varying external conditions have been much less developed and are much less known, especially in marine organisms. This scientific area, which can be called ecobiochemistry, will provide a fundamental explanation of the physiological functions of aquatic species, especially those reared in aquaculture. The physiological and biochemical rhythmicity of these species internal or imposed, circadian, seasonal, annual, or dependingon the molting cycles in arthropods, have to be studeied in detail in order to enhance intensive aquaculture and automatization of the related techniques. The relationship between the variable physiology and biochemistry of the hosts and their parasites, where interesting results have recently been obtained, have to be developed in order to gain an understanding of the processes of infestation, the reciprocal complementarities of the hosts and the parasite, and to improve the prevention and treatment of the hosts. Such a scientific area could be called ecophysioparasitology. Similarly, ecophysiopathology deals with the internal and external conditions of disease apparition. The development of ecophysiology and ecobiochemistry needs interdisciplainary teams made up of marine biologists, physiologists and biochemists, working closely with specialists in aquaculture and development.

The esterase activities of Penaeus japonicus hemolymph, revealed by a mixture of α- and β-naphtylacetate exhibit tricircadian variations under an LD:12-12 photoperiod. During the 24 h period, the total esterase activities can vary by 0,12 to 0,64 V/μg of protein. Under the experimental conditions adopted, circadian variations of the hemolymph esterase activities are observed whatever the sex and molt stage; the sex factor seems to be predominant for the esterase activities studied. Concurrently, a circadian rhythm of individual variabilities is observed for both sexes. The variabilities are assessed from the ratio of standard deviations on the esterase activity means, for each hour of experimentation. The minimum variabilities correspond to maximum total or specific esterase activities for the females whereas they precede the maximum esterase activities for males.

The rate of hatching, duration of embryo stages and total length of newly-hatched larvae were measured in Dicentrarchus labrax, reared in 36 different combinations of temperature and salinity. Temperature varied from 4 to 20°C and salinity from 2 to 47‰. When salinities were between 11 and 20‰, this species was able to hatch at temperatures varying from 11 to 20°C. For salinities of 29, 38 and 47‰, the temperature range over which hatching occurred extended from 8 to 20°C. The Van 't Hoff equation can be adapted to calculate the relation between the rate of embryo development and the water temperature. The Q10 values vary from 2.64 minimum at a salinity of 47‰ to 3.35 maximum at 20‰. The effect of temperature is significant for the means of incubation duration (P < 0.001) and the total length of newly-hatched larvae (P < 0.001). A tridimensional model of the combined effects of temperature and salinity on hatching rate has been constructed for this species.

Resume Les teneurs en proteines de l'hemolymphe chez le crustace decapode Penaeus japonicus Bate, montrent un rythme tricircadien caracterise par deux maximums pendant la nuit et un autre durant la journee. Pendant la nuit, la concentration des proteines totales de l'hemolymphe chez les mâles est plus importante que chez les femelles. Chez les mâles, les valeurs maximales sont environ quatre fois plus fortes (100 mg/ml) que les valeurs minimales (25 mg/ml). Chez les femelles, les variations sont moins importantes: les valeurs maximales sont environ deux fois et demi plus fortes (75 mg/ml) que les valeurs minimales (30 mg/ml). L'electrophorese en gradient de polyacrylamide permet d'observer que les differents constituants proteiques presentent d'une faCon generale des variations circadiennes voisines. L'heure des acrophases depend du sexe et de l'etape du cycle d'intermue. Par contre, les valeurs moyennes de la concentration de chaque constituant proteique calculees a partir des valeurs mesurees aux differentes heures de la journee sont similaires quels que soit le sexe et le stade de mue. Entre 0 et 4 h, certaines fractions proteiques, deux chez les femelles et une chez les mâles ne sont plus detectables par electrophorese. A 12 h, les concentrations de l'hemocyanine et de ses sous-unites augmentent simultanement dans les deux sexes.

Palaemon serratus at larval stage 2, acclimatized at 16°, were subjected to a temperature increase of 15° for periods of 5, 20 or 40 min with or without return to the initial temperature for 12 h. The soluble protein concentration of larvae subjected to a thermal shock of 20 min duration is lower than in control larvae. Total esterase-2C activity per mg of soluble protein after a thermal shock of 20 min duration is less than in control larvae but, in contrast with larvae subjected to a shock of 40 min duration, the initial activity is restored after 12 hours. Esterase-2C activity zymograms, after polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis, show twelve isozymes. The activity of each isozyme examined varies according to the duration of the thermal shock.

The effects of the carbohydrate and protein composition of compound diets on growth rate and on the amylase and protease content of the hepatopancreas have been studied in Palaemon serratus. The best growth rate for animals weighing between 80 and 380 mg is obtained with a diet containing 3.5% carbohydrate and 64% protein. Diets which are very rich in carbohydrate and poor in protein result in poor growth and high mortality; the same is true for foods containing a high concentration of only one protein. Variations in the wet weight of the hepatopanereas and in the total digestive enzymatic activities are linked to variations in the growth rate of the shrimp. Maximal specific amylase activity is reached when assimilable carbohydrate amounts to 2.8%. Maximal specific protease activity is reached when the food protein level reaches 45%. When the amounts of carbohydrate and protein are higher or lower, the values of specific enzymatic proteins diminish.

Six pelletized diets containing different amounts of protein (fish and crustacean meals, gluten), from 21.8 to 45.5%, were tested on six groups of 100 juvenile lobsters, having reached stage VIII, and kept individually. The best weights and linear growths were obtained with a feed containing at least 35% protein. The DNA rate and wet weight/DNA ratio reveal a better growth at the cellular level for the lobsters fed the diet containing 36.6% protein. This growth is more by hyperplasia than by hypertrophy. The RNA rate and the total protein content per individual confirm these results. The RNA/DNA ratio, which is an indicator of cell activity, is the best for this batch: 2.1 after 146 days. Analyses of the hepatopancreas and, in particular, the specific digestive protease and amylase activity, corroborate these conclusions. In the course of this experiment, an inverse relation between discoloration and diet protein rate was observed.

Body free amino acids (FAA) content and ammonia excretion have been measured on the one hand in post-larvae of Penaeus japonicus acclimatized in six water salinities and, on the other hand, in post-larvae after an osmotic stress. Various tested salinities were: 44, 38, 32, 26, 20 and 14‰. When environmental salinity changes, body moisture is not very much affected. However, FAA content and ammonia excretion exhibit large variations. Lowering water salinity from 44 to 14‰. induces an increase of ammonia excretion from 2.3 to 3.5 μatg N/g liver wt/h and a decrease of FAA content from 283 to 204.5 μmol/g live wt. Ammonia excretion is at a maximum at 26‰. (3.7 μatg N/g liver wt/h). FAA content is at a minium at 26‰. (183.7 μmol/g live wt). Modest changes of ammonia excretion and FAA content observed between 26 and 14‰. lead to the hypothesis of a main role played by FAA in osmotic regulation for a salinity range between 44 and 26‰. Intracellular osmotic regulation is effective 8 h after an hyposmotic stress from 44 to 14‰, but does not seem to be realized 24 h after an hyperosmotic stress (14–44‰.). Among analysed amino acids, main variations are registered for glycine, alanine, glutamine and asparagine.

To obtain an efficient compound diet formula for the lobster, Homarus gammarus L., the manner in which the physiology and biochemistry of juvenile lobsters adapt to diets of different composition was studied. Five compound diets were tested for a period of 120 days. Comparisons of effects on the lobsters were noted for survival rates, moulting frequency and growth. The performances of compound diets with clearly-defined formulae can be studied by measuring biochemical parameters which are more representative of the quality of growth (i.e. specific growth at each moult) and preceding phenomena: proteins and nucleic acids, digestive enzyme activity, protein contents of the hepatopancreas, lipid and carotenoid contents.

Penaeid shrimps were fed with a compound diet containing various ratios of carotenoid pigments as carophyll red (0.1, 0.5, 2.5 and 10 g/kg) and canthaxanthin (0.01, 0.05, 0.25 and 1.25 g/kg). Their accumulation in the epiderm-hypoderm complex, in the hepatopancreas and in the exuviae was measured by thin-layer chromatography and spectrophotometry. Carotenoid accumulations in the epiderm-hypoderm complex are, whatever their concentration in the diet, close to 23 μg/g using carophyll red, and 26 μg/g using canthaxanthin. Slightly higher values are observed for 0.1 g/kg for carophyll and for 0.01 g/kg for canthaxanthin. For the hepatopancreas, maximal accumulations were obtained for diets containing 10 g/kg carophyll red and 0.01 g/kg canthaxanthin. For the exuviae, maximal accumulations were obtained for diets containing 0.5 g/kg carophyll red and 0.05 g/kg canthaxanthin. Extracted pigments are roughly 50% astaxanthin and 30% echinenon. The concentrations of these two pigments vary inversely with each other.

Lipids content of the haemolymph and the hepatopancreas in the decapod Crustacean P. japonicus exhibits a bicircadian rhythm characterized by one maximum in the night and another one during the day. The maximal values in the haemolymph are approximatively two and a half times greater (8 mg/ml) than minimal ones (3 mg/ml). Variations are less important in the hepatopancreas.A bicircadian rhythm of lipid classes in the haemolymph is observed very significantly in concentration of polar lipids and free sterols with maximal values (6.87 mg/ml and 0.59 mg/ml) and minimal values (2.63 mg/ml and 0.23 mg/ml) respectively.Polar lipids are the major lipid fractions in the haemolymph (87%). The electrophoretic behaviour of haemolymph lipoproteins is determined.

La premiere etude concernant la composition lipidique des spores de Microsporidies (Protozoaires) a ete realisee. L'analyse porte sur la teneur en acides gras totaux des spores appartenant a trois especes differentes parasitant la meme espece-hote. Les differences dans les resultats des analyses obtenues pour chaque espece meritent d'etre soulignees et egalement l'abondance du 18:2ω6 chezThelohania maenadis (43%). Les variations observees dans les compositions des acides gras du muscle et de l'hemolymphe provenant deCarcinus mediterraneus sain et parasite parThelohania maenadis ne permettent pas de mettre en evidence une action importante du parasite sur le metabolisme lipidique de l'hote.

Resume 1. 1. Le Siphonophore Physonecte Forskalia edwardsi a ete etudie du point de vue de la composition en acides amines libres et proteiques. Les differentes parties ont ete analysees separement: gastrozoides, dactylozoides, cloches natatoires, deux types de bractees, filaments pecheurs, et stolon. 2. 2. Les differentes parties de la colonie montrent des rapports: azote/matiere organique compris entre 2 pour cent pour les cloches natatoires et 17 pour cent pour les dactylozoides et les filaments pecheurs. 3. 3. Le rapport acides amines totaux/matiere organique varie de 4 pour cent dans les cloches natatoires a 90 pour cent dans les filaments pecheurs. 4. 4. Le rapport acides amines libres/acides amines totaux est compris entre 7 pour cent et 23 pour cent. 5. 5. Parmi les acides amines libres, une forte teneur en taurine peut etre notee; elle atteint 56 pour cent dans le stolon et 35 pour cent dans les bractees rondes et les cloches natatoires. L'alanine represente 21 pour cent des acides amines libres dans les cloches natatoires alors qu'elle ne depasse pas 4,5 pour cent dans les autres organes. 6. 6. Parmi les acides amines proteiques, l'acide glutamique constitue 49 pour cent des acides amines dans les filaments pecheurs, alors qu'il ne depasse pas 23 pour cent dans les autres parties du Siphonophore.

1. 1. Siphonophores—Physonectes— Nanomia bijuga (Delle Chiaje 1841) Agalma elegans (Sars 1846) Halistemma rubrum (Vogt) 1852), Forskalia contorta M. Edw. 1841, Forskalia edwardsi Kolliker 1853 and Calycophores Hippopodius hippopus Forskal 1776 and Rosacea cymbiformis (Della Chiaje 1842) have been studied from the point of view of their free and proteic amino acid composition. 2. 2. The organisms studied were caught by divers, then freeze-dried and analysed by a Beckman Spinco 120 C amino-acid analyser. 3. 3. In the Siphonophores analysed the free amino acid values are extremeley high, between 11.1 and 44.7 per cent of total amino acid. 4. 4. The highest values were found in the most primitive organisms and reciprocally the lowest in the most highly evolved organisms. 5. 5. The whole group may be contrasted with the Medusae Acalephae, in which the free amino acids do not exceed 2 per cent. These observations are followed by remarks on the ecology, flotation, physiology and phylogeny of Siphonophores.

Free amino acids of the abdominal muscle of Penaeus kerathurus show circadian variations which are proportionally more important in the case of essential amino acids (valine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, methionine) than in the case of non-essential amino acids. Total concentration of essential amino acids shows two diurnal peaks, at times which are dependent on environmental factors. In winter conditions, these peaks occur earlier (06 and 18 h) than in summer conditions (09 and 21 h). These 12-12 rhythms may be related to the circadian variations of digestive enzyme activities.

After the injection of sodium acetate-1-14C into some prawns, Penaeus japonicus, the de novo lipid synthesis and the distribution of radioactive lipids in tissues such as the muscle, integument, eyestalk, hepatopancreas, and remains were investigated in association with the molting stages. The incorporation of acetate-14C into the lipids was high at stage C1-C2 and low at stages D1' and D1''-D2'''. Throughout the molting cycle, nearly half of the radioactive lipid was distributed in the remains. In the muscle, eyestalk, integument, and remains, radioactive lipids were present mainly as polar lipids in every stage. In the case of the hepatopancreas, rather large amounts of neutral lipids were present besides the polar lipids, and the ratio of polar to neutral lipids reached a minimum at stage D1'.

1. 1. A quantitative and electrophoretic study of copper and zinc in hemolymph of the crustacea decapoda, Carcinus maenas, has been carried out. 2. 2. Most of the copper was linked with hemocyanin. 3. 3. All copper-binding proteins are hemocyanin. 4. 4. Zinc belongs to three different compartments: more than 68% is linked with hemocyanin; about 10% is shown in the fraction containing blood cells, lipids and carotenoids; 15% is present in the hemolymph under a soluble and dialysable form. 5. 5. Specific zinc-binding protein has not been found out in the serum of Carcinus maenas. 6. 6. Zinc linked with hemocyanin is found on high molecular weight protein fractions only.

(1977). Circadian variations of some enzymatic activities in Palaemon squilla Linne (1758) (Crustacea, Decapoda) Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research: Vol. 8, No. 3-4, pp. 357-359.

1. 1. Certain aspects of β-sitosterol metabolism at various stages of the molting cycle in the prawn Penaeus japonicus Bate were studied. 2. 2. The radioactivity (dis/min) per mg of tissue or organ of prawn injected with [ 14 C]β-sitosterol was very high in the gonads and hepatopancreas, high in hypodermis at stages A–B, C 1 –C 2 , C 3 –C 4 , D 1 –D 2 ; and high in the gonad, hypodermis and hepatopancreas at stage D 4 . 3. 3. The rate of bioconversion of β-sitosterol to cholesterol in the hepatopancreas of prawn at stage A–B, three days after injection, was 30–40%. 4. 4. Thin-layer chromatographic analyses of lipids indicated the presence of free sterol, steryl ester and polar steroid in all the tissues and organs. Free sterol was predominant, accounting for 75.7–97.4% of the radioactive compounds present.

1. 1. Carotenoid-protein complexes were purified from the ovaries of Cancer pagurus and Pecten maximus, and from the eggs of Plesionika edwardsi, and their general properties recorded. 2. 2. The compositions of the proteins are similar to those of ovoverdin, the lobster egg (and ovary) carotenoid-protein. All are glycolipoproteins of large molecular size, rich in phospholipids and cholesterol, containing only mannose and glucosamine in the carbohydrate component, with a high content in those proteins investigated of protein-bound phosphate. 3. 3. Whereas astaxanthin is the sole carotenoid component in the Plesionika edwardsi complex, the other chromoproteins contain mixtures of carotenoids. 4. 4. The mode of binding of the carotenoid component(s) in the complexes is discussed.

The use of the method of concentration gradient of polyacrylamide gel, electrophoresis has permitted to reveal a difference in zymograms when studying the hemolymph of healthy crabs and that of crabs parasitized by the muscular microsporidaThelohania, maenadis., The zymograms of the parasitized crabs present an increase in chymotrypsin activity and variations in the zones of esterase activity.