The Biological Bulletin, Vol 183, Issue 3 394-400, Copyright © 1992 by Marine Biological Laboratory

DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION

Protein, Vitellogenin, and Vitellin Levels in the Hemolymph and Ovaries during Ovarian Development in Penaeus semisulcatus (de Haan)

S. Shafir, M. Tom, M. Ovadia and E. Lubzens
National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, P.O. Box 8030, Haifa 31080, Israel

The concentration of vitellogenin (Vg) in the hemolymph of Penaeus semisulcatus was found to increase from an average of 50 {mu}g ml-1 to 439 {mu}g ml-1 in female shrimp during ovarian development. The most significant increase in Vg occurred concomitant with the increase in the vitellin (Vt) content of oocytes with an average diameter (AOD) ranging between 150 and 250 {mu}m. The amount of Vt in the oocytes was found to increase linearly from a mean of 0.0126 mg to 4.55 mg per gm body weight. However, the percentage of Vt in the total protein was found to decrease, from 67% in ovaries with AOD of 150-250 {mu}m, to 39.7% in ovaries with AOD of 350 {mu}m or larger. The volume of the hemolymph was found to be 0.4 ml per gm body weight and did not change significantly during ovarian development. Assuming that Vg in the hemolymph represents either an extraovarian origin of Vt or an active secretion from the ovary, a turnover rate of two to three times per day was calculated over one full cycle of oocyte development. However, during the most significant increase in Vt in the ovary (in ovaries with AOD of 150-250 {mu}m), the turnover rate in the hemolymph could reach seven to eight times per day. The results lead to the conclusion that the contribution of Vg to the formation of Vt in the ovary is quantitatively insignificant.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T Ravid, A Tietz, M Khayat, E Boehm, R Michelis, and E Lubzens Lipid accumulation in the ovaries of a marine shrimp penaeus semisulcatus (de haan) J. Exp. Biol., January 7, 1999; 202(13): 1819 - 1829. [Abstract] [PDF]