Effects of water-borne copper on the Y-organ and content of 20-hydroxyecdysone in Eriocheir sinensis

The effects of water-borne copper (Cu²⁺) (0.01, 0.10, 1.00, and 5.00 mg/L) on Y-organ (YO) microstructure and ultrastructure and on the content of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE) in Eriocheir sinensis were studied using single gradient factor experiments. Results demonstrated that there was no significant difference in YO microstructure and ultrastructure when E. sinensis was exposed to 0.01, 0.10, and 1.00 mg/L water-borne Cu²⁺. However, exposure to 5.00 mg/L Cu²⁺ caused serious damage to the YO microstructure, with an obvious decrease in hemocoel and the disappearance of the basement membrane between cell fibers. In addition, there was an intumescence of cells around the hemocoel, the cell nucleus became enlarged or even rounded, and some cells around the hemocoel crumpled with only the cell nucleus isolated or even huddled in the hemocoel. Similarly, effects of water-borne Cu²⁺ on the YO ultrastructure were observed: obvious enlargement and rounding of the cell nucleus, high heterochromatinization of the nucleus chromatin, disappearance of the YO cell membrane in some severely damaged cells, and varied damage in cellular organelles, such as the disappearance of cristae in mitochondria and disruption of the nucleus membrane. The hemocyte nucleus showed considerable heterochromatinization. In addition, when the Cu²⁺ concentration increased, the content of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE) decreased in all Cu ²⁺ treatment groups (P < 0.05). Results of this study indicate that high water-borne Cu²⁺ concentration impaired the basic structure of YO, which is regarded as the secretion site of 20-HE, and hence decreased the content of 20-HE in hemolymph. Therefore, molting frequency as well as the growth of E. sinensis is inhibited when exposed to high concentrations of water-borne Cu²⁺.