Hormone control of carbonic anhydrase levels in the gills of the green crab that tolerates different salt levels

CA activity in green crabs increases with low salinity exposure, showing a link to CA gene expression.

• Green crabs acclimated to low salinity displayed an increase in both CA gene expression and activity.
• Eyestalk ablation in green crabs at high salinity led to increased CA expression in the posterior gills, despite the absence of low salinity conditions.
• Low salinity further stimulated CA expression in the posterior gills of green crabs following eyestalk ablation.
• No changes in CA activity or expression were observed in the anterior gills of green crabs or in any gills of rock crabs in response to low salinity or eyestalk ablation.
• The findings suggest that CA gene expression in euryhaline species is inhibited by a repressor in the eyestalk, a mechanism not present in stenohaline species.

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