Cardiovascular physiology of decapod crustaceans: from scientific inquiry to practical applications

Until recently, the decapod crustacean heart was regarded as a simple, single ventricle, contraction of which forces haemolymph out into seven arteries. Differential tissue perfusion is achieved by contraction and relaxation of valves at the base of each artery. In this Review, we discuss recent work that has shown that the heart is bifurcated by muscular sheets that may effectively divide the single ventricle into 'chambers'. Preliminary research shows that these chambers may contract differentially; whether this enables selective tissue perfusion remains to be seen. Crustaceans are unusual in that they can stop their heart for extended periods. These periods of cardiac arrest can become remarkably rhythmic, accounting for a significant portion of the cardiac repertoire. As we discuss in this Review, in crustaceans, changes in heart rate have been used extensively as a measurement of stress and metabolism. We suggest that the periods of cardiac pausing should also be quantified in this context. In the past three decades, an exponential increase in crustacean aquaculture has occurred and heart rate (and changes thereof) is being used to understand the stress responses of farmed crustaceans, as well as providing an indicator of disease progression. Furthermore, as summarized in this Review, heart rate is now being used as an effective indicator of humane methods to anaesthetize, stun or euthanize crustaceans destined for the table or for use in scientific research. We believe that incorporation of new biomedical technology and new animal welfare policies will guide future research directions in this field.