CHANGES IN HEMOLYMPH ECDYSTEROID LEVELS AND CNS CONTENTS OF CRUSTACEAN CARDIOACTIVE PEPTIDE-IMMUNOREACTIVITY DURING THE MOLT CYCLE OF THE ISOPOD ONISCUS-ASELLUS

By use of newly developed enzyme immunoassays for ecdysteroids (ECD) a nd crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) it was found (1) that in the isopod Oniscus asellus a peak occurs of hemolymph (HL)-ECD contents i n premoult stages followed by a second but smaller peak 1 h after post erior ccdysis, and (2) that concomitantly with a drop in the first ECD -peak, CCAP-contents of the ventral nerve cord rise tenfold basal leve l around posterior ecdysis. This suggests that CCAP plays a role in is opod moulting processes.