Biology of reproductionDec 17, 2013

Changes in egg yolk protein and its inhibiting hormone in adult and young whiteleg shrimp related to molting and eyestalk removal

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 26, 2026

Abstract

Significant fluctuations in vitellogenin (VG) levels were observed during the molting cycle in adult whiteleg shrimp.

VG mRNA expression and VG concentrations exhibited similar patterns during the molting cycle.
VG levels increased significantly at early intermolt (stage C0) in adult shrimp, but not in subadults.
Unilateral and bilateral eyestalk ablation led to increased VG levels in adults, while only bilateral ablation affected subadults.
Vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone (VIH) levels showed differing patterns between adults and subadults, with adults exhibiting high levels in late postmolt.
Unilateral eyestalk ablation increased VIH levels in adults 10 days post-ablation, followed by a decrease at 20 days.
Eyestalk ablation promoted ovarian maturation without reducing VIH concentrations in the hemolymph.

Simplified

Levels of vitellogenin (VG) and vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone (VIH) in the whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, were measured by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay in relation to the molting cycle and ovarian maturation induced by eyestalk ablation. During the molt cycle, VG mRNA expression levels and VG concentrations showed similar patterns of fluctuation. VG levels increased significantly at early intermolt (stage C0) in adults, but not in subadults. Unilateral and bilateral eyestalk ablation increased VG levels in adults, whereas only bilateral eyestalk ablation affected subadults. VIH levels showed contrasting patterns between adults and subadults. In adults, levels were high in late postmolt adults (stage B) and then low thereafter, whereas they increased from postmolt (stage A) to intermolt (stage C0) in subadults and remained high. Unilateral eyestalk ablation increased VIH levels 10 days following ablation in adults, after which levels decreased at 20 days. VIH levels decreased from 10 to 20 days after bilateral ablation. Both unilateral and bilateral ablation led to increased VIH levels in subadults. Eyestalk ablation induced ovarian maturation, but did not reduce VIH concentrations in the hemolymph. This phenomenon was perhaps due to other crustacean hyperglycemic hormone peptides having cross-reactivity with VIH antibodies. This is the first report to quantify concentrations of VG and VIH together in L. vannamei hemolymph, and to examine their relative dynamics.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View Full Text ↗

Changes in egg yolk protein and its inhibiting hormone in adult and young whiteleg shrimp related to molting and eyestalk removal

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief