Haemolymph metabolic variables in relation to eyestalk ablation and gonad development of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Boone

The present study analyses some biochemical variables in haemolymph proposed as predictive indicators of the maturation capability following eyestalk ablation. Haemolymph of captive females was obtained before and 8 days after eyestalk ablation, and levels of haemocyanin, total proteins, glucose, lactate, cholesterol, triacylglycerides and vitellogenin were determined. Biochemical variables were also analysed in the hepatopancreas at the end of the experiment. Females were grouped as immature (previtellogenic stage) and mature (vitellogenic and cortical stages) based on histological analysis done 8 days after eyestalk ablation. To analyse haemolymph variables before eyestalk ablation in relation to maturation capability, immature females were classified as those with a low maturation capability and mature females as those with a high maturation capability. Females of high maturation capability had significantly higher vitellogenin levels before eyestalk ablation than females of low maturation capability. No significant differences were found for the other biochemical variables. Vitellogenin was also higher in mature than in immature females at the end of the experiment. These results indicate that vitellogenin levels in haemolymph could be used as possible predictive criteria of maturation capability, possibly because they reflect the degree of ovarian development at the time of eyestalk ablation.