Biochemical composition of the hemolymph, hepatopancreas, ovary, and muscle during ovarian maturation in the penaeid shrimps Fenneropenaeus merguiensis and F. penicillatus (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Abstract

The present study quantifies the concentrations of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids in the hemolymph, ovary, hepatopancreas, and muscle of Fenneropenaeus merguiensis and F. penicillatus during ovarian maturation. Proteins were the major constituent in the hemolymph and ovaries of the 2 species, while lipids were the major constituent in the hepatopancreas. The protein, carbohydrate, and lipid contents in the ovaries of both species increased as ovaries matured. The increase in the protein, carbohydrate, and lipid contents in the ovaries during maturation indicates that the ovaries utilize these constituents to mature. Concentrations of lipids in the hepatopancreas decreased with ovarian maturation in both species. It appears that the lipid demands of ovarian maturation are met by the hepatopancreas reserves, as lipid decrease in the hepatopancreas coincided with an increase in fully mature ovaries. The increase of protein, lipid, and carbohydrate contents in the hemolymph with ovarian maturation in both species shows that the hemolymph serves as a vehicle for the mobilization of organic reserves. Proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids in the muscles of the 2 species did not seem to be related to ovarian maturation. In the present study, both the gonadosomatic index and the hepatopancreatic index also increased with ovarian maturation in F. merguiensis and F. penicillatus.