ACTION OF VARIOUS ANTICOAGULANTS ON HEMOLYMPHS OF LOBSTERS AND SPINY LOBSTERS

Abstract

Effects of anticoagulants on hemolymph coagulation of lobsters are reported. Effects of some inhibitors on plasma clotting change in relation to molting stages of animals. Variations of electrophoretic and immunochemical protein patterns are analyzed. Complete coagulation inhibition shows that the plasma coagulogen exists as a mixture of soluble uncovalently crosslinked polymers. In lobsters the molecular weight of the lightest visible circulating unit is approximately 420,000 daltons. The weight interval between each of the four lighter polymers is about 200,000 daltons. Serine protease inhibitors impair plasma clotting and interact with cellular clumping.