The crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) releases amylase from the crayfish midgut gland.

The present study aimed to investigate the role of eyestalk factors in the neuroendocrine control of the crustacean midgut gland concerning the release of amylase. The crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) is considered to be a candidate for this role. An optimum concentration (1.05 nM) CHH increased the in vitro release of amylase about 13-fold. CHH from Carcinus only slightly increased amylase release from Orconectes midgut glands, suggesting a species- or group-specificity. Studies on the possible mechanism of action concentrated on the role of Ca2+, cAMP and cGMP. Extracellular Ca2+ seems to be necessary to produce the amylase-releasing effect of CHH. Addition of dibutyryl derivatives of the cyclic nucleotides evoked the same effect as CHH. Additionally, the presence of forskolin in the incubation medium had an amylase-releasing effect, which points to a role of cAMP in the mode of action.