Ontogeny and Plasticity of Crustacean Cardiac Physiology

心血管系统是第一个在胚胎中发挥功能的系统，随后是一系列相互依赖的相互作用，最终形成一个功能正常的成年人。 由于心血管系统在氧气和二氧化碳运输中的重要性，其正常发育的变化可能对成人功能产生关键影响。 胚胎心血管系统的生理学与成人心血管系统的生理学完全不同，因为功能随着胚胎成熟而变化。 尽管心血管系统在胚胎功能中起着关键作用，但人们对环境如何影响其发育模式知之甚少。 甲壳类动物提出了一个有价值的分类组，这是因为它们的发展模式和形态可塑性的多样性。 Reiber博士的这项研究的目标有三个方面：首先，将测量胚胎和幼体小龙虾和小虾发育期间的心脏功能（速率，压力和流量），为进一步开展工作奠定基础。 其次，将确定发育过程中心脏调节的机制。 最后，一旦确定了心脏调节的基本发育模式，将通过将特定发育阶段的胚胎暴露于改良条件（水氧和温度）来研究与环境应激相关的心脏生理学变化。 这项研究将为理解心脏发育的基本模式和早期心脏功能对发育结果的影响做出重大贡献。

The cardiovascular system is the first to become functional in embryos and is followed by a series of interdependent interactions that result in a functional adult. As a result of the cardiovascular systems' importance in oxygen and carbon dioxide transport, a change in its normal development could have a critical impact on adult function. The physiology of embryonic cardiovascular systems is quite different from those of adults because functions change as the embryo matures. Despite the critical role the cardiovascular system plays in embryonic function, little is know about how the environment can effect its developmental pattern. Crustaceans present a valuable taxonomic group useful for this research because of their diverse array of developmental patterns and morphological plasticity. The objectives of this research by Dr. Reiber are three fold: First, measurements of cardiac functions during development (rates, pressures and flows) in embryonic and larval crayfish and shrimp will be made to establish a foundation on which further work can be initiated. Second, the mechanisms of cardiac regulation during development will be determined. And lastly, once basic developmental patterns of cardiac regulation have been determined, the changes in cardiac physiology associated with environmental stress will be investigated by exposing embryos of defined developmental stages to modified conditions (water oxygen and temperature). This research will make significant contributions toward understanding both the fundamental patterns of cardiac development and the impact of early cardiac function has on developmental outcomes.