Copper utilization during embryogenesis of Palaemon lamarrei.

The pattern of copper utilization during the embryogenesis of the freshwater prawn, Palaemon lamarrei has been described. Throughout the incubation period, lasting for 14 to 16 days, the egg of P. lamarrei is permeable to salts and against a concentration gradient, it absorbs 11 mug of salt from the freshwater medium. Out of this total salt uptake, as much as 0.143 mug is due to the absorption of copper. Intake of copper, as a function of incubation time, exhibit a more or less similar trend to that of total salt intake and this can be attributed to the increased synthesis of haemocyanin.