Nutrient absorption and storage roles of hepatopancreas, gills, and muscles during moulting in Macrobrachium nipponense (Decapoda, Caridea, Palaemonidae): insights into phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium dynamics

What is it about?

Crustaceans need to undergo multiple molts during the growth process. Molting is a crucial and fragile link for crustaceans. It is particularly important to study the calcification mechanism of crustacean molting and ensure the smooth completion of molting. As we all know, molting is accompanied by changes in mineral elements such as calcium. This article takes Macrobrachium nipponense as an example, starting with the elements of phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium in molting, which is different from other articles that simply study the changes in molting elements. Innovatively introduce hepatopancreas, gills, muscles, carapace and other tissues to study the changes of elements in crustacean tissues during molting to explore whether the elements required for molting are helpful. The results show that tissues such as hepatopancreas and gills can absorb and store phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. And it was found that the same tissue has different absorption and storage effects of different elements. In addition, different tissues absorb the same element in different amounts, and this difference is even a difference in absorption time. In summary, this study shows that crustacean hepatopancreas and other tissues can absorb and store elements needed for molting from the outside, supporting crustacean smooth molting.

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