Thromb Haemost 1979; 42(02): 734-742
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1666911
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Coagulation in the Sand Crab (Ovalipes Bipustulatus)

F Madaras
The Department of Haematology, Repatriation General Hospital, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Heidelberg West, Victoria, 3081, Australia
,
J D Parkin
The Department of Haematology, Repatriation General Hospital, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Heidelberg West, Victoria, 3081, Australia
,
P A Castaldi
The Department of Haematology, Repatriation General Hospital, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Heidelberg West, Victoria, 3081, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 03 June 1978

Accepted 10 October 1978

Publication Date:
23 August 2018 (online)

Summary

The coagulation mechanism of the sand crab (O. bipnsulatus) has been investigated. From the coagulocytes (amoebocytes) present in the crab haemolymph (blood), fibrinogen (coagulogen) was isolated. It was shown to be homogeneous by electrophoresis on S.D.S. polyacrylamide gel and had a molecular weight similar to the A α-chain of human fibrinogen. Unlike human fibrinogen it cannot be dissociated by reduction. In fibrin polymerization, a crosslinking process takes place and this process was inhibited by glycine ethyl ester. A fibrin stabilizing factor is present in the crab haemolymph and this protein was able to cross-link human fibrin in the same manner as human factor XIII.

 
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