HEMOLYMPH TRANSPORT AND TISSUE ACCUMULATION OF EXOGENOUS COPPER IN THE SHORE CRAB, CARCINUS-MAENAS

Exogenous (i.e. non-haemocyanic) copper was quantified in the haemolym ph of shore crabs Carcinus maenas and the fate of the metal was studie d in animals contaminated either by exposure to waterborne copper or b y injection into the haemolymph space. Direct contamination from the a mbient water resulted in a relatively steady level of haemolymph exoge nous copper by 2-3 days. Following a single injection, exogenous coppe r disappeared rapidly from haemolymph, following an exponential time c ourse (half time 22.4 h). Insignificant amounts of the metal were excr eted to the ambient water but dose-dependent tissue uptake could be de monstrated in vivo and by using an in vitro hepatopancreatic cell prep aration. Almost all haemolymph exogenous copper was protein-bound and non-filterable. By ultracentrifugation and gel filtration experiments, the only protein binding exogenous copper was shown to be the respira tory pigment haemocyanin. These results emphasize the role of haemolym ph and haemocyanin as an efficient copper transport system in the crus taceans. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd