Serum constituents of the Malaysian prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and pink shrimp (Penaeus marginatus)

Baseline serum values of newly captured Malaysian prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and pink shrimp (Penaeus marginatus) were determined by Sequential Multiple AutoAnalysis. Both of these species have considerable potential for commercial captive culture.Sex differences in serum constituent levels were found within species. Female pink shrimp had higher serum glucose levels than the males. Malaysian prawn males had higher cholesterol levels than females, and the latter had higher levels or activities of urea nitrogen, creatinine and lactic dehydrogenase.Pink shrimp held under laboratory conditions for 10 days had higher levels or activities of serum glucose and alkaline phosphatase and lower levels or activities of serum inorganic phosphorus, total protein, lactic dehydrogenase and glumatic-oxaloacetic transaminase than pink shrimp sampled immediately after capture.