Release of digestive enzymes from the crustacean hepatopancreas: effect ofvertebrate gastrointestinal hormones

Vertebrate gastrointestinal hormones were tested on their ability to libera te digestive enzymes from the crustacean midgut gland. CCK-8 (desulfated fo rm), gastrin, bombesin, secretin, and substance P were detected to release enzymes. Maximal concentrations observed were 5 nM CCK for protease release , 1 nM gastrin for protease and 100 nM for amylase release, 100 nM bombesin for protease release, 10 nM secretin for amylase and protease release. and 100 nM substance P for protease release. Unlike in vertebrates, glucagon w as unable to stimulate enzyme release in crustaceans, this also applies to the counterpart insulin. These results may support the assumption that Crus tacea possess endogenous factors resembling the above mentioned vertebrate hormones, at least in such a way that the appropriate receptors have the ca pacity to accept these hormones. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.