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Continuous Noninvasive Measuring of Crayfish Cardiac and Behavioral Activities
Published on: February 6, 2019
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Physiological and Behavioral Indicators to Measure Crustacean Welfare
Rebecca Adams1,2, Catherine E Stanley3, Elena Piana4
1Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA. adamsr11@mymail.nku.edu.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|November 6, 2019
Summary
Warming crayfish rapidly to 44°C stops neural function and cardiac activity, improving animal welfare by limiting noxious stimuli exposure. Recovery is possible for sensory neurons but not the neuromuscular junction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Physiology
- Aquaculture
Background:
- Ensuring animal welfare in commercially important crustaceans like the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is crucial.
- Rapid neural inactivation before slaughter minimizes exposure to noxious stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of warming on neural circuits, including sensory neurons and neuromuscular junctions.
- To assess cardiac function and behavior in red swamp crayfish during thermal challenges.
Main Methods:
- Examining neural circuits (sensory neurons, neuromuscular junction) and cardiac function in red swamp crayfish during controlled warming.
- Monitoring heart rate, behavior, and neural response at various heating rates (1 °C/min, 12 °C/min, 46 °C/min) up to 80 °C.
Main Results:
- Cardiac arrest occurred at 44 °C when warming at 1 °C/min.
- Synaptic transmission and primary sensory neuron function ceased at 44 °C.
- Sensory neurons showed potential for recovery after brief exposure, while neuromuscular junctions did not.
Conclusions:
- Rapid warming above 44 °C is critical for minimizing noxious stimuli exposure in crayfish.
- Understanding thermal inactivation points is key for humane processing of crustaceans.
- Neuromuscular junctions are irreversibly affected by rapid warming at higher temperatures.
