| Abstract: | To investigate the effects of salinity on early development of Chinese mitten crab(Eriocheir sinensis),and the salinity tolerance mechanism of embryos,different developmental stages of embryos(gastrula,eyespot and pre-hatching stage),and hatched stage I zoea and megalopa,were exposed to a range of salinities(1,5,10,15(control),20,25,30,35 and 40).Hatching,survival and molting were monitored.Effects of 24-hour hypersaline(35)and hyposaline(1)stress on egg diameter,water content,Na^+/K^+-ATPase(NKA)activity,and crustacean hyperglycemic hormone(CHH)gene mRNA expression in embryos and megalopa,are reported.Embryos are more tolerant of low(≤5)than high(≥25)salinities,with optimum ranges for gastrula and pre-hatching stage embryos being 5-20,and for eyespot embryo and stage I zoea,10-20.Most megalopa can molt to the first juvenile instar by day 5 at salinities between 1 and 40,whereas molting of megalopa stages was delayed at 40.Hypersaline conditions resulted in a loss of moisture,reduction of egg volume,and a significant increase in NKA activity and CHH mRNA expression at some developmental stages.Hyposaline conditions did not affect moisture content or egg volume,but resulted in decreased NKA activity and CHH mRNA expression in embryos.For megalopa stages,NKA activity was significantly upregulated following both hypo-and hypersaline stress.Our results suggest high salinity will inhibit development and hatching of E.sinensis embryos,and low salinity will affect the survival of their stage I zoea.Increased NKA activity in embryos and megalopa stages might indicate a hyporegulation response under hypersaline conditions.These findings provide useful information for spawning ground protection of indigenous E.sinensis and enrich the knowledge of embryonic tolerance mechanisms of hyperregulating crustaceans following osmotic stress. |
