Cadmium and mercury linked to high blood sugar in freshwater crabs through the hormone control system

Crabs exposed to cadmium or mercury showed significant hyperglycemia compared to controls.

• Intact crabs exhibited elevated glucose levels after exposure to cadmium chloride or mercuric chloride.
• Eyestalkless crabs did not show significant differences in glucose levels after metal exposure.
• The findings suggest that metals may affect the sinus gland in the eyestalks, which regulates glucose levels.
• Eyestalks from metal-exposed crabs had significantly lower levels of hyperglycemic hormone compared to those from controls.
• These results indicate that metal exposure could impair the secretion of hyperglycemic hormone from the eyestalk.

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