COAGULATION IN THE CRAYFISH,ASTACUS LEPTODACTYLUS:ATTEMPTS TO IDENTIFY A FIBRINOGEN-LIKE FACTOR IN THE HEMOLYMPH

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Abstract
A series of tests were conducted to determine whether or not the hemolymph of the crayfish A. leptodactylus contained a plasma coagulation factor. Total protein was higher in the plasma than in the serum. Serum and plasma did not exhibit similar electrophoretic banding patterns. Plasma contained 1 band or a series of supplementary fractions with a high molecular weight. Electrophoregrams of plasmatic clottable extract obtained by the classical methods employed in crustacean serology, showed a main fraction or a series of polymers with the same electrophoretic behavior as the additional fractions seen on the plasma pattern. This solution clotted when treated with CaCl2 and a cellular extract. Immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated the presence of a clottable protein precipitate line in plasma; this protein also gave a very faint similar line in serum.