Biochemical Changes during Gonadal Maturation in Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

The changes in moisture, protein, lipid, carbohydrate and carotenoids in the ovary, hepatopancreas, muscle and haemolymph during the process of gonadal maturation of the crab Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) were investigated. There was significant difference (p<0.01) in moisture, protein and carotenoid levels at various maturity stages. The lipid content showed significant difference (p<0.01) in all the tissues except in muscle tissue and the carbohydrate values showed significant difference (p<0.01) only for ovary and hepatopancreas. The moisture content decreased with gonadal maturation in all the tissues. The protein titre increased with maturity in ovary, muscle and haemolymph whereas in hepatopancreas it registered a decrease. The lipid values of all the tissues and the haemolymph showed an increasing trend with maturation. The carbohydrate level also increased with gonadal maturity in the tissues and haemolymph. The carotenoid content followed an increasing trend till mature stage in the ovary whereas in the hepatopancreas and haemolymph it increased till the late maturing stage.