Post-molt processes of cuticle formation and calcification in the Japanese mitten crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eriocheir japonicus</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | Konomi Sakamoto Wataru Honto Masaharu Iguchi Nobuhiro Ogawa Kazuhiro Ura Yasuaki Takagi |
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Institution: | (1) School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato-cho, Hakodate Hokkaido, 041-8611, Japan;(2) Yamagata Prefecture Fisheries Experiment Station, 594 Kamo, Tsuruoka Yamagata, 997-1204, Japan;(3) Yamagata Prefecture Inland Water Fisheries Experiment Station, 1-4-12 Izumi-cho, Yonezawa Yamagata, 992-0063, Japan;(4) Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato-cho, Hakodate Hokkaido, 041-8611, Japan;(5) Present address: Produce Technology Division, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Department, Yamagata Prefectural Government, Matsunami 2-8-1, Yamagata 990-8570, Japan; |
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Abstract: | This study examines the following in the Japanese mitten crab: (1) the structure of the exoskeleton with special reference
to its calcification; (2) the progression of post-molt cuticle formation and calcification. In the crab, the structure and
calcification state of the exoskeleton at the molt and during the inter-molt stage were similar to those of other crustaceans.
During the inter-molt, the exoskeleton consisted of four cuticle layers; the outermost epicuticle, the exocuticle, the endocuticle
and the innermost membrane layer. Intense calcification was observed in the exo- and endocuticle. At the molt, the synthesis
of the epi- and exocuticle was already complete, and the addition of the endocuticle began after the molt. Calcification of
the exocuticle initiated soon after the molt, but there was a delay between endocuticle matrix synthesis and calcification.
Histology showed that the process of calcification was similar to that in other crustaceans. However, calcium concentrations
within the exoskeleton continued to increase and never reached the levels of the inter-molt stage at the end of the experiment.
This suggests that the Japanese mitten crab is relatively slow to calcify compared to other crustaceans. |
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Keywords: | Calcification Cuticle formation Japanese mitten crab Molt |
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