Hormonally-regulated functions in crustaceans as biomarkers of environmental pollution.

The effects of organic and inorganic contaminants on functions regulated by hormones in crustaceans are being investigated with increasing frequency because several of these phenomena show promise of being useful biomarkers of environmental contamination. Heavy metals and organic compounds have been found in studies with crustaceans to negatively affect hormonally-regulated functions, specifically reproduction, molting, blood glucose level, and pigmentary effectors. Neurotransmitters, including 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine, have been identified as being involved in stimulating or inhibiting release of specific crustacean neurohormones such as the pigment-dispersing and pigment-concentrating ones involved in color changes. The effects of pollutants on at least some of these hormonally-regulated processes appear due at least in part to impacting release of a neurohormone, possibly by affecting release of the neurotransmitter that normally stimulates release of that particular neurohormone.