Effects of melatonin on hemolymph glucose and lactate concentrations in the fiddler crab, uca pugilator

Author (Your Name)

Kathryn M. Dalton, Colby College

Date of Award

2002

Document Type

Honors Thesis (Open Access)

Department

Colby College. Biology Dept.

Advisor(s)

Andrea R. Tilden

Second Advisor

Julie T. Millard

Abstract

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indolamine hormone produced by the pineal gland that works to regulate sleep/wake cycles and activity rhythms. The effects of melatonin in metabolism are far from understood. Melatonin was injected into the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator, to investigate the effects of melatonin on hemolymph glucose and lactate levels. Following injection at t=O, hemolymph samples were collected at t=O.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 5.0 hours. Melatonin caused a decrease in the stress response to injection and also caused delayed hyperglycemia. Melatonin-injected crabs also retained the glucose and lactate rhythymicity when compared to saline-injected crabs. Glucose and lactate rhythms followed the same pattern indicating that the cycles are coupled. Also, melatonin was synthesized using tbe Fischer Indole synthesis and characterized using H?NMR. The synthetic melatonin demonstrated biological activity when injected into the crabs as when compared to pure melatonin on the effects on glucose and lactate concentrations. Overall, melatonin influences both glucose metabolism and the production of lactate.

Keywords

Melatonin -- Physiological effect, Blood sugar, Lactates, Fiddler crabs

Recommended Citation

Dalton, Kathryn M., "Effects of melatonin on hemolymph glucose and lactate concentrations in the fiddler crab, uca pugilator" (2002). Honors Theses. Paper 66.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/66

Copyright

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