In vitro effects of both dopaminergic and enkephalinergic antagonists on the ovarian growth of Cherax quadricarinatus (Decapoda, Parastacidae), at different periods of the reproductive cycle.

The in vitro effect of both spiperone (dopaminergic antagonist) and naloxone (enkephalinergic antagonist), was assayed on small pieces of ovary dissected from C. quadricarinatus females, with the eventual addition of some neuroendocrine organs, such as thoracic ganglion or eyestalk tissue. The incorporation of tritiated leucine by the ovary was measured in order to estimate the ovarian growth.

Induction of ovarian growth in Aegla platensis (Crustacea, Aeglidae) by means of neuroregulators incorporated to food.

The freshwater crab Aegla platensis was used as a model to induce ovarian growth by adding different neuroregulators to a pellet food formulation. Added compounds were the dopaminergic inhibitor spiperone or the enkephalinergic inhibitor naloxone, both of them at a dose of 10(-8) mol/animal. Animals were fed on the enriched pellets twice a week.

Toxicity of mercury during the embryonic development of Chasmagnathus granulatus (Brachyura, Varunidae).

Ovigerous females of the estuarine crab Chasmagnathus granulatus were exposed to mercury (0.1mg/L) during the entire, early, or late embryonic development. A delay in the egg incubation period and some morphological abnormalities were detected in larvae hatched from exposed females.