Temperature impact on copper metabolism in the blood of crab, Oziotelphusasenex senex and snail, Pila globosa

Copper content, protein level and haemocyanin concentration in the blood of crab, Oziotelphusa senex senex and in the snail, Pila globosa decreased si gnificantly on exposure to shortterm (3h) warm temperature whereas cold tem perature produced an increase in the copper, protein levels and haemocyanin concentration of both the animals. The decrease in blood copper during war m exposure suggests the catabolsim of haemocyanin to meet the high energy d emand under thermal stress. The thermal stress however did not alter either the percent copper in the purified haemocyanin or its minimal molecular we ight in both O. senex senex and P. globosa. This apparently indicates that the physico-chemical nature of the haemocyanin molecule in the blood was no t altered under thermal stress.