Endocrine Regulation of Lipid Synthesis in Decapod Crustaceans

The legulation of lipid synthesis in the hepatopancreas of thecrab Pachygrapsus crassipes and the crayfish Procambarus sp.was investigated. Although deatalking induces an increase inthe rate of ¹⁴C-1-acetate incorporation into lipid, injectionsof crustecdysone into intermolt animals fail to elicit a similarresponse. In addition, the increased rate of lipid synthesisinduced by destalking is unaffected by removal of the Y-organ.It would appear then that the increase in lipid synthesis characteristicof early premolt is not controlled by either crustecdysone orthe Y-organ. It is suggested that formation of acetyl-CoA byany one of a number of possible mechanisms may bethe mannerin which the increase in fatty acid synthesis is effected duringpremolt.